Volunteers spruce up trailhead with native plants: The Galbraith Mountain trailhead parking lot is ready for spring with a newly planted native mini-meadow-scape, a beautiful addition with benefits for pollinators too. This successful project was a collaboration with Whatcom Million Trees Project, Washington Native Plant Society Koma Kulshan chapter and 53 dedicated volunteers. Together they planted 228 native plants, most of which are pollinator-friendly. Bellingham is a proud Bee City USA affiliate, committed to using native plants to help our local ecosystem thrive. If you’re bummed you missed this opportunity, it’s not too late to sign-up for another Saturday work party with our Parks Volunteer program.
Winter Shelter Program wrap-up: This week marked the end of the 2023-24 winter shelter program at Civic Field, led by Road2Home and funded by the City and Whatcom County. Over its three months of operation, the program served an average of 44 guests each night and was at or above its 45-person capacity 87% of the time. As we transition to debriefing this winter’s service and planning for next year, we want to pause to highlight the fantastic Road2Home team. They approach the important work of providing shelter for vulnerable community members with compassion, respect and kindness, and their partnership in operating this much-needed shelter is invaluable. Thank you, Road2Home!
ADU applications on the rise: Since amending our accessory dwelling unit (ADU) codes in August 2023, we have seen a significant uptick in the number of ADU applications we’ve received per month. We received 43 ADU applications in total in 2023. Less than two months into 2024, we had already received 15. If we were to continue at the current rate, by the end of the year we would receive 120 applications. An ADU is a separate, self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as an existing single-family home. ADUs support the City’s infill housing goals, increase housing choice and affordability, and provide homeowners opportunities to earn additional income, age in place, or care for relatives. Learn more about ADU requirements. The City’s ADU changes were a result of Washington State legislative actions on housing. You can track City progress implementing State legislation affecting housing on our website.
Heads up about Bellingham building codes: New building codes will go into effect in Bellingham on March 15, 2024. For applications and plans to be considered under current codes, they must be submitted by March 14 at 5 p.m. and be fully consistent with submittal requirements. Every three years, the State Building Code Council revises building codes (including those for energy, plumbing, and mechanical) that local jurisdictions are required to enforce. Originally, the codes were supposed to be adopted in July 2023, but that process was delayed as the State Building Code Council finalized the construction regulations. To find out what’s changing, visit our website.
Drinking water passes PFAS test: Across the nation, concerns are rising about PFAS chemicals in drinking water. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals that stay in the environment for a long time and may affect human and environmental health. Since 2013, the City of Bellingham has been testing our drinking water for PFAS. Our latest results, based on stricter testing guidelines, are in, and we’re happy to report that no PFAS were detected in Bellingham’s drinking water. Cheers to another great test result!
With spring comes… construction: As we enter March, you will start to see construction projects pop up around town, including many public improvement projects. Work is starting all over the place next week. Crews will be out at Telegraph to add bike lanes, improve sidewalks and pedestrian crossings and make intersection improvements. On West Illinois, Puget Sound Energy and Telecom are out moving their utilities to get ready for the construction of bicycle and pedestrian improvements starting in mid-March. There will continue to be work on the intersection of Cornwall and Illinois as part of the Parkview Safe Routes to School project. On Valencia, crews are continuing to work on the watermain replacement project. Water service will be temporarily disrupted for customers on Alabama Street between Yew and Toledo streets, and on Valencia between Alabama and Texas Streets on Wednesday, March 6. Traffic will be reduced to single lanes. Please slow down in construction zones and obey all flaggers.
Grant supports redevelopment effort in Old Town: On Tuesday, February 20, Whatcom County Council voted 7-0 to approve a $1.5 million grant to improve street infrastructure and underground utilities in Old Town. Together, the City and County will invest $5 million to support eight blocks of commercial, residential, and mixed-use development in the Old Town District over a 10-year period. Old Town Village, LLC, the private development entity, has plans to construct at least 500 new residential units. Permitting is underway for the first 130 units to be located at the corner of D and Holly.
