Chuckanut Mountains Park District Benefit

Chuckanut Mountains Park District Benefit

“MUSIC BY THE SEA”
Larrabee State Park

Sat., Sept. 8, 2 PM

Admission by Donation
Featuring Chuck Dingee & friends and Vadinska
For more info: 676-7573

Public hearings will be held on two proposed four-story, mixed-use buildings by Sam Boulos at the intersection of Donovan Avenue and 12th Street. The buildings would be 10,000 square feet each of commercial and residential space. The Planning Commission will consider building height and bulk at 7 PM Thursday, July 19th. The Historic Preservation Commission will consider building design and appearance at 7 PM July 24th.

More info at: the COB website.

CSN Candidates Forum 2007

Thursday July 19th – 7:00 PM
Firehouse Performing Arts Center – 1314 Harris Ave

The Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods invites you to the 2007 Primary Candidates Forum. The Forum will include candidates for the City of Bellingham’s Mayor, City Council At-Large and City Council-5th Ward positions. There will be time set aside during the Forum for questions from the audience so please come and bring your questions for the candidates. This is good opportunity to hear what the candidates fell about issues that affect the Southside of Bellingham.

A set of questions was sent to all of the candidates and their written responses are available for viewing at:
CSN Candidate Forum Questions

Edgemoor Neighborhood Survey

The ENA has put together a neighborhood survey to assist with the Edgemoor Neighborhood Plan update process. If you did not receive a survey, or additional family members would like to participate, please download the Edgemoor Neighborhood Survey and mail it by July 5, 2007, or bring it to the next ENA meeting. Your input is valued and appreciated and will help us update the Edgemoor Neighborhood Plan.

E N A votes to support the proposed changes to the Fairhaven Design Review Code

Edgemoor Neighborhood Association
PO BOX 4420
Bellingham, WA 98225

May 4, 2007

Tim Stewart
Planning and Community Development Director
City of Bellingham
210 Lottie Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

Dear Mr. Stewart,

At our general meeting on May 3, 2007, the Edgemoor Neighborhood Association voted to support the proposed changes to the Fairhaven Design Review Code brought forward by the Fairhaven Neighbors.

Fairhaven is the community core of the 5 Southside neighborhoods, including Edgemoor. We all have a stake in Fairhaven’s future and we feel that the current Design Review Code does not adequately protect the community character of Fairhaven from development plans that go against the intent of the Fairhaven Design Review Code.

We feel as a Neighborhood Association that the preservation of what is special and unique about Fairhaven should be the highest priority. The ENA is not against development in Fairhaven, however we strongly feel that future development should truly be harmonious with the existing Historic Character of Fairhaven. Adoption of the proposed changes will help return the Fairhaven Design Review Code to its intended purpose by setting clear guidelines and limits that will replace the items in the Code that currently appear to be up to subjective interpretation.

The members of the Edgemoor Neighborhood Association thank you for considering the wishes of the entire populace when the decision is made on this issue.

Respectfully,

Brad Rose
President, Edgemoor Neighborhood Association

PUBLIC MEETING to discuss changes to the Land Use Laws for Fairhaven

In the next few months, the Planning Commission and the Bellingham City Council will consider proposed changes to the Land Use laws for Fairhaven. In December, 2006, the Director of Planning and community Development approved for consideration a proposal by the non-profit Fairhaven Neighbors association to change portions of the Fairhaven Design Review law that governs the size and appearance of buildings in this historic district. The aim of the proposal is to further the goal of preserving Fairhaven’s vitality and prosperity by clarifying existing building design guidelines, and by closing loopholes in current height regulations.

The proposal has been brought forward by local residents, and now it is everyone’s turn to have a say. This public meeting will be an opportunity for everyone to learn what has and has not been proposed, what legally can and cannot be proposed, and how the proposal can be changed through public input.

PUBLIC MEETING, 7:00–9:00 P.M., APRIL 26th, 2007 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, located at 1720 Harris Ave.
For more information, contact Fairhaven Neighbors, P.O. Box 4142, Bellingham WA 98225, or call 671-1559.
Details available at www.fairhavenneighbors.org

Park district petition drive continues through March 31

Chuckanut Mountains Park District Advisory Board
DATE: March 12, 2007
CONTACT: Joanne Peterson, 676-7573

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Park district petition drive continues through March 31

Petitions to place the establishment of a Chuckanut Mountains Park District (CMPD) on the November 2007 general-election ballot will be available for voter signature through March 31. Members and supporters of the non-profit CMPD Advisory Board will continue to canvass neighborhoods within the district through that date in order to obtain the required 15% of registered voters within the proposed park district, which includes voting precincts in both Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
In Bellingham, petitions are also available to sign at Eclipse Bookstore, 1104 11th St.; and the Community Food Co-Op, 1220 N. Forest St.
As allowed by Washington State law, a Metropolitan Park District may levy property taxes, acquire matching grants, participate in development impact fees and real-estate excise taxes, issue bonds, accept monetary and land donations, and support other related jurisdictional functions. The CMPD is specifically being organized to provide land stewardship serving citizen conservation and outdoor recreation priorities in this unique geological area of the Chuckanut Mountains, where the Cascades meet the sea. The district itself is not a park and has no regulatory authority over private property or publicly owned lands.
Although the law allows for a higher tax levy rate, the CMPD Advisory Board has committed to recommending a maximum levy of $.25 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. If voters approve the establishment of this park district, five elected park district commissioners will be accountable to represent district residents.
More information about the petition drive is available from Joanne Peterson (Whatcom County), 360-676-7573; and Frank Eventoff (Skagit County), 360-766-8800. Detailed information about the park district is available at the CMPD website, www.chuckanutmpd.org.

Public Input Meeting on Greenways Levy III Implementation

A public meeting to gather citizen input on Greenways Levy III implementation is scheduled for TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007 from 7 to 9 p.m. at KULSHAN MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMONS. All Bellingham citizens are invited to come and learn about the acquisition process for greenways, parks and trails and to provide input on where they would like to see new parks, trails and open space in Bellingham.

This is the second of several city-wide outreach meetings to familiarize the public with the process for land acquisition using Greenway Levy funds (as well as money from park impact fees and other sources) and the roles of the key Levy partners - Parks and Recreation Department, Greenway Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, City Council, and the public.

Participants will have the opportunity to share their opinions about what projects are most needed in their neighborhoods and city-wide, what land might be available and appropriate for such projects, and what other ideas and suggestions they have for maximizing the value of new Greenway Levy funds.

If you are unable to attend this meeting and would like to provide input, please fill out a Public Input Form (PDF) for staff and the Greenway Advisory Committee to review and consider. All comments received will also be summarized on the Greenway Public Comment Tracker.

All Bellingham citizens are welcome to attend. Kulshan Middle School is ADA accessible. Assistive hearing devices and sign interpretation are available upon request by contacting Leslie Bryson at (360) 676-6985 at least three working days in advance of the meeting.