Restoration work underway at Little Squalicum Creek
Next time you’re at the Little Squalicum off-leash area or visiting the Little Squalicum Pier, you may notice crews working in the creek nearby. That’s because restoration doesn’t end when construction does.
Near the Little Squalicum Estuary project, completed in 2024, crews are repositioning boulders and large wood in the creek to stabilize streambanks and reduce erosion. The work is being done during the approved time for in‑water construction, with measures in place to protect fish and other aquatic life. Work will continue through early September, followed by native plantings this fall.
This kind of follow-up work is an important part of habitat restoration. Crews continue to monitor and maintain restoration sites over time, adjusting as conditions change to support healthy, functioning habitat.
Flexible parking requirements become permanent
On Aug. 10, Bellingham City Council approved permanent changes to Bellingham’s code that allow property owners and developers to choose the amount of vehicle parking they provide based on anticipated demand, rather than City mandates. These permanent rules go into effect Aug. 25 and replace an interim ordinance that has been in place since January 2025. Before that ordinance, Bellingham’s parking requirements were at odds with housing needs and environmental priorities.
Reforming parking requirements was one of the measures called for in Mayor Kim Lund’s executive order to increase housing opportunities. Learn more about the parking requirement changes on our Flexible Parking Requirements page.
Your art could be in our renovated Central Library
We are looking for artists to design, fabricate, and install artwork as part of the Bellingham Central Library Phase 2 Renovation Project. The focus is on spaces for children and teens, and we’re looking for proposals that incorporate themes of the local environment and nature. The deadline to apply is Sept. 18 at noon. Learn more and apply on our website.
Public hearing for Low-Income Housing Development Incentive is Monday
There will be a public hearing Monday, Aug. 24, for an ordinance intended to make it quicker and cheaper for developers to build more affordable housing. Under the proposal, City-funded development projects with only permanently affordable units would be exempt from most zoning and land use regulations (such as height, ground floor commercial requirements, and density) that can lead to higher costs, fewer housing units, or increased risk for developers. Learn more at meetings.cob.org.
Galbraith Mountain to temporarily close Aug. 24-25
Galbraith Tree Farm is closing public access to its property on Galbraith Mountain Aug. 24-25 to spray herbicide on access roads. Please respect the closure for your safety.
Galbraith Tree Farm is private property that is managed by Janicki Logging Co., for timber production. The City secured public access to the property by purchasing a recreational use easement in 2018.
It’s official: You really asked us everything!
Mayor Kim Lund and her leadership team took questions from a crowd of more than 100 community members yesterday at our final Ask Us Anything event of the year at Larrabee Lager Co. We discussed small business retention, the RG Haley / Salish Landing clean-up, waterfront development, how we can support neighborhood gatherings, and more. Thank you to all who came for the open, productive discussion. We’ll be back for more community meetings in 2027.
Thanks to everyone who joined our final Ask Us Anything of the year!
