The Growth Management Act limits amendments to the comprehensive plan, which includes neighborhood plans, to once a year. The process to amend the plan includes two steps: 1) Establishment of the list of amendments (the “docket”) through a Type VI legislative review process and 2) Once on the annual review docket, the amendments (and rezones, if applicable) go through a second Type VI process. Requests to amend the comprehensive plan must be submitted to the Planning Department by April 1st of each year so that they can be considered for inclusion on the annual docket.
2020 Annual Docket – EXCEPTION
Due to the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) the April 1, 2020 deadline for submitting docket proposals for the 2020-2021 comprehensive plan amendment review process has been extended to September 30, 2020.
Comprehensive/Neighborhood Plan Amendment and Rezone Request Application Forms
- Process Document (PDF) (read this first)
- Docketing Application (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan / Neighborhood Plan Amendment Application (PDF)
- Rezone Application (PDF)
Proposals for Docket
| Proposal | Description | PC Recommend | CC Recommend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhaven Area 1 Rezone (REZ2020-0002) | Rezone City owned property and adjacent right-of-ways from Industrial 2 to Commercial Core | Public Hearing November 19, 2020 | |
| Neighborhood Parks Rezone (REZ2020-0003) | Rezone 6 neighborhood parks from Residential to a Public zoning designation | Public Hearing on November 19, 2020 | |
| Bellingham School District Capital Facilities Plan (REZ2020-0005) | Amend the Capital Facilities Chapter of the Comp Plan to include the BSD 2021-2027 Capital Facilities Plan by reference | Public Hearing on November 19, 2020 | |
| Mobile / Manufactured Home Park Designation (REZ2020-0006) | Amendment to potentially add comprehensive plan designation and zoning | Public Hearing on November 19, 2020 | |
| 2020 Surface and Stormwater Comp Plan (REZ2020-0007) | Amend the Capital Facilities Chapter of the Comp Plan to include the 2020 Stormwater Comprehensive Plan by reference | Public Hearing on November 19, 2020 |
Active Docketed Proposals
| Proposal | Description | PC Recommend | CC Recommend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Access Policies (REZ2019-0001) | Amend Comprehensive Plan to add policies related to food access. | Recommended Approval | Public Hearing on November 9, 2020 |
| Parks and Recreation & Open Space (PRO) Plan (REZ2019-0002) | Update the PRO Plan. | Recommended Approval | |
| York Neighborhood Plan – Area 1 (REZ2019-0004) | Amend the sub-area language for Area 1 of the York Neighborhood Plan. | Recommended Approval | Public Hearing on November 9, 2020 |
| Samish Way Urban Village Plan (REZ2018-0003) | Update the plan and development regulations. | Recommended Approval | Public Hearing held on May 6, 2019 |
| Waterfront District Master Plan (REZ2018-0002) | Update the plan, development regulations and design standards. | Recommended Approval | Public Hearing held on October 7, 2019 |
Archived Docketed Proposals
| Proposal | Year Docketed | Status | City Council Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birchwood Neighborhood Plan – Area 1 (REZ2019-0003) | 2019 | WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT | |
| Samish Neighborhood Plan and Zoning Table – Area 4 (REZ2018-0004) | 2018 | EXPIRED – Deadline not met by applicant | |
| Mobile Homes _Manufactured Home Parks (REZ2018-0005) | 2018 | Complete | Approve |
| Comprehensive Plan Update | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Barkley Neighborhood | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Cordata Neighborhood – Area 20 | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Cordata Neighborhood – Area 9 | 2016 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood – Ashley Way | 2014 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood – Area 9 | 2014 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood – Area 4 | 2014 | Complete | Approve |
| Cordata Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Cornwall Park Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Happy Valley Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Meridian Neighborhood | 2013 | Deadline not met – withdrawn | |
| Park, Recreation and Open Space Chapter | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| South Neighborhood | 2013 | Complete | Approve |
| Cornwall Park Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Edgemoor Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| King Mountain Neighborhood (Area 14A) | 2012 | Complete | Approve |
| South Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Sunnyland Neighborhood– City of Bellingham | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Sunnyland Neighborhood – Neighborhood Association | 2012 | Complete | Approve |
| Sunnyland Neighborhood– Owners | 2012 | Complete | Deny |
| Whatcom Falls Neighborhood | 2012 | Complete | Approve |
| Economic Development Chapter (Comprehensive Plan) | 2011 | Complete | Approve |
| Downtown Bellingham Plan | 2011 | Complete | Approve |
| Samish Neighborhood | 2011 | Complete | Deny |
| Happy Valley Neighborhood | 2011 | Complete | Deny |
| King Mountain Neighborhood (Area 13) | 2010 | Complete | Deny |
| Fairhaven Neighborhood and Urban Village Plan | 2008 | Complete | Approve |
| Sehome Neighborhood Association | 2008 | Complete | Approve |
| Bakerview/James Urban Village Master Plan | | Pending Staff Resources |
