The challenges in the housing world are many, including: reducing homelessness, increasing the supply of affordable rental housing, and creating a range of new for-sale housing types that provide an entry to home ownership. These are nationwide issues but are even more acute in coastal areas surrounded by plentiful natural and cultural amenities. Compounding these problems locally, expanding student enrollment and a growing population have resulted in some of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the State.
Protections for Manufactured Home Parks
The City Council has acted to enhance protections of manufactured home parks to help preserve this important form of affordable housing. After a series of moratoriums on redevelopment, on October 24, 2022, Council passed amendments to the Bellingham Municipal Code to establish a Manufactured Home Park overlay to preserve existing parks through additional zoning protections and regulations on change of use, ownership, and closure of a park.
- Video, October 24, 2022, Work Session to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to Establish a Manufactured Home Park (MHP) Overlay and Regulations
- Video, October 3, 2022, Work Session to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to Establish a Manufactured Home Park (MHP) Overlay and Regulations
- Video, September 12, 2022, Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to Establish a Manufactured Home Park (MHP) Overlay and Regulations
- Video, April 25, 2022, Extension and Renewal of an Ordinance Establishing a Moratorium on Redevelopment of Manufactured Home Parks in Bellingham
- Video, December 14, 2020, Public Hearing to consider amendments to the Bellingham Comprehensive plan (see potential amendment for a comprehensive plan designation and zoning for manufactured home parks).
- Video, December 7, 2020, Public Hearing to Extend the Current Moratorium on Change of Use for Mobile Home Parks
- Video, June 8, 2020, Public Hearing to Extend the Current Moratorium on Change of Use for Mobile Home Parks
- Video, June 3, 2019: Approval of Manufactured Home Park Redevelopment Moratorium (see “Mayor’s Report”)
City Council Town Hall: Community Voices on Affordable Housing
In 2022, the City Council held a series of Town Hall meetings on issues of importance to the City and Bellingham residents. The November Town Hall focused on Affordable Housing.
Planning Committee Work Sessions on Residential Rental Barriers/Concerns
Many Bellingham community members reside in rental housing. The Council adopted an ordinance to prohibit source of income discrimination in rental housing and to expand notification of rental increases under certain circumstances. The following links include meeting videos and materials.
- Ordinance 2018-02-004, Protection of Residential Tenants
- Video, February 12, 2018: Council consideration of Ordinance Adopting Protections for Residential Tenants (Committee of the Whole)
- Video, January 22, 2018: Work session on Ordinance Adopting Protections for Residential Tenants (Committee of the Whole)
- Video, December 11, 2017: Work session on Ordinance Adopting Protections for Residential Tenants (Committee of the Whole)
- Video, December 4, 2017: Public Hearing on Ordinance Adopting Protections for Residential Tenants (Regular Meeting)
- Memo, Source of Income Discrimination Ordinances
Housing Equity Assessment
In 2018, the City Council tasked its Planning and Community Development Committee with creating specifications for a Housing Equity Assessment that will document the distribution of housing, services, parks, and economic opportunity within the City of Bellingham.
- Video, December 16, 2019: Housing Equity Assessment Update
- Video, December 9, 2019: Housing Equity Assessment Update
- Video, November 18, 2019: Housing Equity Assessment Update
- Video, October 21, 2019: Housing Equity Assessment Update
- Video, August 19, 2019: Housing Equity Assessment Update
- Video, July 1, 2019: Housing Equity Assessment Update
Funding and Incentives for New Housing
Homelessness
Other Housing Resources
- Bellingham Housing Statistics
- Housing and Human Services
- 2016 Comprehensive Plan, Housing Chapter
- City of Bellingham Action Plans
- Whatcom County Homeless Strategies Workgroup
- Video, October 26, 2016: Smart Towns President Chuck Marohn on sustainable city planning
Contact
Mark Gardner, City Council Legislative Analyst, mgardner@cob.org
