Learn more about middle housing
At Monday’s Bellingham City Council meeting, you’ll have a chance to learn more about middle housing and how allowing more of it citywide could help us meet our community’s housing needs. This Council work session, scheduled during the Monday, Feb. 24 Committee of the Whole, is informational only and comes in advance of a future public hearing (not yet scheduled) for an interim ordinance that would allow middle housing development citywide. Mayor Kim Lund’s Housing Executive Order calls for acceleration of a middle housing ordinance as a strategy to increase housing opportunities. Middle housing describes home types at various price points and scales between single-family homes (at one end of the housing spectrum) and high-rise apartments (at the other end). Learn more about middle housing in Bellingham, see examples of middle housing already here, or learn more about Monday’s study session.
Public hearing: tree protection ordinance changes
On Monday evening, February 24, Bellingham City Council will hold a public hearing to consider a six-month extension and minor clarifications to the interim Landmark Tree Ordinance. The changes being considered attempt to strike a more refined balance between the need for tree preservation and the need for development projects (especially housing) and include enforcement considerations. The hearing will take place during City Council’s regular evening meeting. You can find the interim ordinance and changes being considered on the Council meetings website.
County Homelessness Plan accepting input
Housing and other services for people who are unhoused are essential community needs, and right now, you have an opportunity to help shape our community’s response. In Whatcom County, all federal and state funding for homelessness services and emergency shelter flow from Washington State to Whatcom County, which allocates these resources on behalf of all cities – including Bellingham – and unincorporated Whatcom County. Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) has begun the process to develop our county’s next homelessness housing plan, and now through March 7, they are seeking feedback through a public survey. The plan developed by WCHCS will be the blueprint for how local homelessness resources will be spent from 2026-2030. You can learn more about the plan on the WCHCS website.
Feedback invited for water conservation program
Help us shape our water use efficiency goals! We invite the community to review and comment on our proposed water use efficiency goal and measures to promote water conservation. All public water systems in Washington State are required to use a public process to adopt their water use efficiency goals. The proposed goal and measures are posted on Engage Bellingham and there is an opportunity to provide public comment during the upcoming Water Resources Advisory Board meeting on February 25, 6 p.m. at the Pacific Street Operations Center, 2221 Pacific Street. This is your chance to provide feedback on conservation efforts and future initiatives. Join the discussion and help ensure a smart and sustainable water future for our community. Comments and questions will be collected through Sunday, March 2.
Received a new compost bin?
Organic waste collection is being added as a standard service for all single-family residential customers in Bellingham in 2025 to help us reduce landfill waste and come into compliance with future statewide requirements. As neighborhoods have started receiving their compost bins, we’ve had a number of questions from community members who are new to the service. Although opting out of the service is not an option, you may be able to combine waste collection services with neighbors if you live on a lot with multiple units. And there are ways to save money on your waste bill by reducing garbage collection frequency and bin size, or if you qualify for a discount. Compost at home already? There are items that you can put in your FoodPlus! bin to be commercially composted that you likely wouldn’t add to your home compost pile. To help make this transition smoother and answer common questions, we created a FAQ on our website with more information. Thank you for your patience through these changes.
