Bellingham City Planning Commission

The Bellingham Planning Commission held its third work session on the city's comprehensive plan update, focusing on the Community Design chapter. Planner Anya Gedrath presented a streamlined framework that consolidates eight existing goals into five new ones while addressing state legislative requirements that will reshape how design review operates in Washington. The meeting highlighted significant tensions between maintaining design quality and complying with new state mandates requiring "clear and objective" design standards. House Bills 1110 and 1293 will eliminate subjective design review processes and restrict local governments' ability to impose stricter standards on middle housing than single-family development. Public commenters emphasized housing affordability concerns, with Dan Bloemker arguing that excessive regulations have made Bellingham "one of the least affordable cities in the country." A second speaker raised concerns about city land ownership reducing the tax base, while a third highlighted homeownership challenges for working families. The commission explored practical implications of the new framework, particularly around "human scale" street design, flexible right-of-way standards, and the future role of the Design Review Board. Staff acknowledged they are still determining how to maintain design quality while meeting state requirements for objective, streamlined processes. #