Bellingham reconsiders Northern Heights annexation, but shelves it for now
Bellingham City Council members this week reconsidered their recent denial of a neighborhood’s request to be part of the city — taking the proposal out of the trash but shelving it for a year or more.
By a 5-2 vote Monday, the Aug. 25 denial of the Northern Heights area’s annexation request was amended to deny the annexation proposal but have the measure return for consideration in late 2026 or early 2027. City Council members Lisa Anderson and Hannah Stone dissented.
Councilman Dan Hammill, who was among the council majority who voted to deny the annexation, brought the motion to reconsider.
“I’ve received more information, more data, from a variety of sources, that has led me to believe that it would be in the best interest of the city, and the City Council as decision-makers, to reconsider this,” Hammill said Monday during committee discussion of the measure.
Councilman Skip Williams said one reason he voted to reconsider the annexation is all the work that was done by Northern Heights residents and city employees who assessed the economic benefits and costs associated with annexation.
“I believe that ‘just say no’ might be a little bit harsh,” Williams said.
Residents of the mostly developed area of 146 acres on the northeast outskirts of Bellingham filed paperwork in early 2024 seeking to be included in the city, according to previous Herald reporting.. Property owners representing at least 60% of the assessed value of the area asked to be included in the city.
After a year of study, however, a 5-1-1 majority of City Council members feared that the cost of providing police and fire services would add to a looming budget deficit amid economic uncertainty for 2026. They also worried about costs associated with culverts in the area that must be replaced under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires easier passage underneath roads for streams that carry migrating salmon.
Councilman Michael Lilliquist voted against rejecting the annexation request Aug. 25, and councilmember Jace Cotton abstained.
Under parliamentary rules followed by the council, only members who vote on the winning side of an issue are allowed to call a vote for reconsideration.
Monday’s action to reconsider the annexation was listed under “old and new business” and wasn’t specifically listed on the Sept. 15 meeting agenda.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
