The City Council supports policies that increase access to healthy food options in Bellingham. Comprehensive Plan amendments are in process that would encourage grocery stores, farmer’s markets, food carts, and other mobile vendors to locate in underserved communities and in newly developing areas. In response to the closure of a long-time grocery store in the Birchwood neighborhood along with the prohibition of a new grocery store at that location by the property owner, the Council passed an ordinance that would prohibit future restrictive covenants on grocery stores in the City.
Policy and Ordinance Development
Restrictive Covenants
- Video, December 9, 2019: Public Hearing on, and passage of, an Ordinance Regulating Restrictive Grocery Covenants
- Video, July 15, 2019: Potential Ordinance on Restrictive Covenants that Affect Grocery Stores
- Video, May 20, 2019: Potential Ordinance on Restrictive Covenants that Affect Grocery Stores
- Video, March 25, 2019: Potential Ordinance on Restrictive Covenants that Affect Grocery Stores
- Video, February 25, 2019: Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Amendments and an Ordinance on Restrictive Grocery Covenants
- Video, November 19, 2018: Food Deserts and What a Can City Do to Prevent Them
Comp Plan Food Access Amendments
- Video, November 9, 2020, Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan Amendments for Food Access
- Video, August 26, 2019: Public Hearing on Resolution on 2019-2020 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
