## Meeting Overview On a pleasant late spring evening in Bellingham, the Planning Commission gathered on May 29th, 2025, to continue their methodical journey through the updated comprehensive plan. What made this meeting particularly engaging was the arrival of subject matter experts from multiple city departments—transportation planners from Public Works and the full parks and recreation team—bringing deep technical knowledge and real-world perspective to policy discussions that will shape how Bellingham residents move around and enjoy public spaces for the next 20 years. The session focused on two interconnected chapters: Transportation and Parks & Recreation. While these might seem like separate domains, the evening's discussion revealed how thoroughly intertwined they are in a city committed to walkability, trails as transportation corridors, and reducing car dependency. Planning Commissioner Mike Estes chaired a focused discussion with strong attendance from both commissioners and city staff, despite the competing appeal of outdoor activities on one of the year's first truly warm evenings. ## Safety Takes Center Stage in Transportation Planning Dylan Casper, Bellingham's transportation planner who joined the city just over a year ago, walked commissioners through the most significant shift in the transportation chapter: an unprecedented emphasis on safety. "This is a new goal for this planning update," Casper explained, "and something that we felt was lacking in the previous comp plan was an emphasis on safety." The new approach embraces Vision Zero principles—the philosophy that serious injuries and fatalities on city streets are preventable and unacceptable. "The safe systems approach strives to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities," Casper said, describing policies that would fundamentally change how the city approaches street design. This isn't just about adding stop signs; it's about systematic changes including automated speed cameras in school zones, raised crosswalks, and coordination with the Washington State Department of Transportation on major corridors. The urgency behind this shift became clear when planning staff Sydney Prusak described public feedback from community open houses. A display board asking residents where they felt unsafe drew overwhelming response about "road traffic"—people walking and biking feeling threatened by vehicle speeds and insufficient crossings. "When we were making this board, we really were like, how is anyone? Can anyone feel unsafe here?" Prusak recalled. "And the fact that that was—I mean housing stability close second—but that really just we were not expecting that to be the number one element of safety." Commissioner discussions revealed both the promise and challenges of this safety focus. When asked about responsibility for major intersections like I-5 and Meridian, Casper acknowledged the complexity: "I think a collaboration of both mainly state responsibility. But the city definitely has a hand in that." It's a reminder that even local transportation goals often depend on partnerships with state agencies that may have different priorities. ## Transit Emerges as Growth Strategy Perhaps the most significant structural change in the transportation chapter is elevating transit from a policy buried within other goals to its own dedicated section. "We now have a goal directly related to transit," Prusak explained, "which yes, was included in other goals. But now this is right out saying it and we were just more upfront with that." This shift reflects both state requirements and local reality. As Planning Commissioner Jerry Richmond noted, "We are generally blessed in Bellingham, that we have relatively small rights of way in most places. We don't have heavy corridors of many lane highways. However, I know that as we lean into the transit, a lot of that right of way could be used for busses or whatnot." Richmond's observation cut to a central tension: improving transit often means reducing space for single-occupancy vehicles and parking. When he asked whether the city was "willing to do downgrades on level of service in regards to single occupancy vehicles," Casper pointed to the new transportation modal hierarchy that will prioritize different modes on different corridors rather than trying to accommodate everything everywhere. The collaboration with Whatcom Transit Authority runs deep throughout the chapter. WTA staff participated in drafting the policies, reviewed iterations, and helped ensure consistency between city and transit agency goals. "They've been with us since we started drafting this," Prusak noted, emphasizing the partnership required for transit success. Commissioner Dan Bloemker pressed on regional connections beyond WTA, noting Seattle's successful light rail expansion: "I'm wondering like what our role is in connecting like Bellingham to Everett, where the eventual terminus of light rail is." While high-speed rail captured some public imagination (and Prusak's enthusiasm), the more immediate opportunity lies in enhancing connections to existing Amtrak service and potential commuter options as the Puget Sound region's transit network expands northward. ## Transportation Demand Management: Leading by Example One of the meeting's more revealing discussions centered on Transportation Demand Management (TDM)—strategies to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips. When commissioners asked about the city's role as a TDM leader, some uncomfortable truths emerged about municipal practices. "Employees that work at City Hall don't have to pay for parking," Prusak acknowledged. "There's we all get free parking here. And that is not necessarily what other cities do." The irony wasn't lost on anyone: a city committed to reducing car dependency provides free parking for its own employees while expecting private employers to encourage alternative transportation. Yet the city does provide some progressive benefits. All employees receive free WTA bus passes, and electric bikes are available for trips between city facilities. When asked about usage rates, staff couldn't provide specific numbers, highlighting a broader challenge in measuring TDM effectiveness beyond basic census commute data. Casper explained current limitations: "Right now the only data we have available is through the census. And unfortunately that only tracks commute to work modes." Better measurement tools are coming—the Whatcom Council of Governments may conduct household travel surveys more frequently—but the data gap reflects how hard it is to track the modal shift that transportation planners desperately want to achieve. ## Parks Planning: Equity, Maintenance, and New Pressures The parks presentation revealed a department grappling with success. As Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation director, explained, "With Covid, we got a lot more people outside and a lot more people in our parks, which is great, which is exactly what we want. But it also increased how much maintenance and operations work and staffing has to be provided." This increased usage comes alongside rising costs for everything from trail construction to facility maintenance. "Trails are incredibly expensive," noted Peter Gill, the department's planning and development coordinator. "Blows my mind." The traditional crushed limestone surface that works well on local trails is becoming scarcer as Whatcom County's limestone quarries play out, forcing consideration of alternatives. The department's approach to equity stood out as particularly thoughtful. Beyond the basic goal of providing parks within half a mile of all residents, policies address "barriers to facilities and programs by underserved communities." This isn't just about geographic access but understanding why some parks are heavily used while others, like Highland Heights, remain underutilized despite being "a beautiful place." Oliver described using new technology to understand usage patterns: "We've got place data that counts people's phones. So we know we're matching up how much time is being spent to maintain each of our parks versus how many people are visiting each of our parks." This data-driven approach to park improvement represents a significant evolution from traditional intuition-based planning. ## The Pickleball Phenomenon No discussion of parks planning in 2025 would be complete without addressing the pickleball boom. When Commissioner Richmond asked about pickleball facilities—"what I hear a lot of feedback and questions are"—Oliver's response revealed both the demand and the challenges. "12 court covered. We have $2 million. What's your problem? Put it somewhere," Oliver said with obvious frustration. "We've looked everywhere, and we just don't have that much space that we could dedicate to that big of a facility in our existing system." The city added four courts at Cordata Park, but pickleball advocates want a permanent tournament-size facility. The large impervious surface requirements make this particularly challenging. As Oliver noted, "Don't forget, it's impervious surface, which is another big drag about that big of a facility." A potential partnership with Whatcom Community College fell through, and the ongoing Civic Athletic Complex master plan may offer opportunities, but the demand clearly exceeds current capacity. ## Trails as Transportation: Navigating Conflicts One of the evening's most nuanced discussions addressed using trails for transportation rather than just recreation. The city's new policy recognizing "trails as transportation" represents a significant shift, but commissioner questions revealed the complications. Bloemker, drawing from personal experience, described conflicts on popular trails like the Boulevard: "Obviously on a busy day, you can't ride your bike on Taylor Dock. There's too many people and you have to go somewhere else." He noted that electric bikes and scooters intensify speed differentials between users, creating potential safety issues. The challenge extends beyond just bikes versus pedestrians. When transportation-focused cyclists move at commuter speeds through recreational areas, conflicts increase. "If you're biking to work, you're trying to go kind of fast," Bloemker observed, "and you end up conflicting with pedestrian use case." Parks staff acknowledged these tensions while defending their traditional crushed limestone surface as Ada-accessible and effective for weed control. But they're exploring alternatives for different trail types and usage levels, recognizing that a high-use transportation corridor might need different treatment than a quiet nature trail. ## Water Access: A Touchy Subject Commissioner Russell Whidbey raised what he called a "wordsmithing" concern about language around acquiring "waterfront property," worried it might sound "kind of snooty" to regular Bellingham residents. His concern triggered a passionate response from Oliver about the city's water access challenges. "Did you go to Bloedel yesterday by chance?" Oliver asked. "That's a good idea. Because it was an absolute mess over there. We have a very significant shortage and disparity in our community about access to water." She described the planned Salish Landing development, which will provide significant new waterfront park space as part of the Cornwall landfill cleanup. The exchange highlighted both the genuine need for more water access and the sensitivity around how such goals are framed. Staff agreed to revise language from "waterfront property" to "water access" or "public access to the water" to better communicate the public benefit focus. ## Looking Ahead: Community Well-being and Implementation As the evening concluded, Prusak announced exciting news about the comprehensive plan's next phase: "We're going to release our community well-being chapter, which it's going to contain concepts related to community well-being and civic practices. So how we can show up for our community as an inclusive and effective government, where people can engage fully as themselves." This new chapter, scheduled for Planning Commission review on June 26th, represents uncharted territory for Bellingham's comprehensive plan. While transportation and parks policies build on decades of planning precedent, community well-being as a formal planning goal breaks new ground. The transportation chapter will return in August with its technical elements, including the 20-year project list that will translate policies into specific infrastructure investments. The parks department will continue developing their separate Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan to provide detailed implementation guidance for the goals established in the comprehensive plan. ## A Night of Integration What emerged most clearly from the evening's discussions was how thoroughly transportation and parks planning have become integrated in Bellingham's vision. Trails serve as transportation corridors, park access depends on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and both departments share commitments to equity and sustainability that transcend traditional departmental boundaries. The collaborative approach—with Transportation Commission and Parks Advisory Board input shaping policies before they reach Planning Commission review—reflects a maturing planning process that takes advantage of specialized expertise while maintaining democratic oversight. The presence of multiple department staff, from brand-new Public Works director Joel Pfundt (literally day three on the job) to experienced parks planners, demonstrated the city's commitment to getting these policies right. As commissioners prepare for the community well-being discussion and eventual public hearings on the comprehensive plan, the transportation and parks chapters represent solid foundations built on extensive public input, technical expertise, and honest acknowledgment of current challenges. Whether addressing trail conflicts, parking demand, or the seemingly intractable pickleball facilities gap, city staff and commissioners showed a willingness to engage complexity rather than settling for simple answers. The meeting adjourned with commissioners thanking staff for their comprehensive presentations and acknowledging the impressive amount of policy work accomplished. As Chair Estes noted, "This is a lot of policies, a lot of attention, especially on a nice night," a fitting observation for an evening that balanced weighty planning decisions with appreciation for the outdoor opportunities that make Bellingham special.

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Planning Commission met on May 29, 2025, to review draft Transportation and Parks & Recreation chapters of the updated comprehensive plan. Staff from Public Works and Parks departments presented the new goals and policies for these chapters, which are part of the ongoing Bellingham Plan update process gearing toward formal public hearings this summer. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Comprehensive Plan:** A 20-year citywide planning document that guides development, transportation, and municipal services. Required by Washington state's Growth Management Act. **Transportation Demand Management (TDM):** Strategies to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles by encouraging walking, biking, transit, and carpooling. **Transportation Impact Fees:** Fees paid by new developments based on person trips generated, used to fund transportation infrastructure including sidewalks and bike lanes. **Multimodal Concurrency System:** A process that evaluates whether adequate transportation capacity exists for new developments across all modes of transportation. **Vision Zero:** A safety approach that strives to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities from transportation systems. **PROS Plan:** Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a 20-year implementation guide for improving parks, trails, and recreation programs. **RFB:** Rapid Flashing Beacon - crosswalk safety devices with push-button activated flashing lights. **WTA:** Whatcom Transportation Authority - the regional transit agency serving Bellingham and surrounding areas. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Mike Estes | Planning Commission Chair | | Sydney Prusak | City Planning Staff | | Dylan Casper | Transportation Planner, Public Works | | Joel Pfundt | Director of Public Works (day 3 on job) | | Peter Gill | Planning and Development Coordinator, Parks & Recreation | | Nicole Oliver | Parks & Recreation Director | | Lane Potter | Development Manager, Parks & Recreation | ### Background Context This meeting was part of an ongoing comprehensive plan update process that began in 2023. The city is updating its 2016 comprehensive plan to comply with state Growth Management Act requirements and address current challenges like housing affordability, climate change, and transportation safety. The Transportation chapter emphasizes safety more heavily than the previous plan, while the Parks chapter is being restructured to separate policy goals from implementation details. Both chapters reflect increased collaboration between city departments and external partners like WTA and the Parks Advisory Board. ### What Happened — The Short Version Staff presented the draft Transportation chapter's five goals focusing on safety, transit collaboration, multimodal networks, connectivity, and equitable infrastructure. Dylan Casper explained new emphasis on Vision Zero safety approaches, stronger WTA partnerships, and updated transportation impact fee systems. Peter Gill then presented the Parks chapter's seven goals covering equity, design, preservation, play, connectivity, system resilience, and partnerships. Commissioners asked detailed questions about transportation impact fee calculations, trail surface materials, park lighting policies, and how parks balance different recreational uses. The meeting concluded with news that the Community Well-Being chapter would be released the following week. ### What to Watch Next - June 26th: Planning Commission will review the new Community Well-Being chapter - August: Planning Commission will receive the technical aspects of the Transportation chapter including the 20-year project list - Summer: Formal public hearings on the comprehensive plan chapters - Later 2025: Full PROS Plan implementation document will come to Planning Commission ---

**Q:** What are the five main goals of the draft Transportation chapter? **A:** Safety/comfort/reliability, transit agency collaboration, multimodal network mode shift, connectivity, and equitable facilities and infrastructure. **Q:** Who is Dylan Casper? **A:** Transportation planner with Public Works who has been in Bellingham for about one year and helped write the Transportation chapter. **Q:** What is Vision Zero? **A:** A transportation safety approach that strives to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities from the transportation system. **Q:** How many goals does the Parks chapter have, compared to the 2016 version? **A:** Seven goals in the new version, down from eight in the existing plan, as part of consolidating and being more efficient. **Q:** What does RFB stand for? **A:** Rapid Flashing Beacon - pedestrian crossing safety devices like those on Ohio Street. **Q:** What is the biggest change in the Transportation chapter compared to 2016? **A:** Greater emphasis on safety, stronger collaboration with WTA, and prioritizing connections throughout the city. **Q:** Who is Joel Pfundt? **A:** The new Director of Public Works - this was his third day on the job when he attended the meeting. **Q:** What are transportation impact fees based on? **A:** Person trips generated by new developments, calculated using the ITE manual to determine both vehicle and person trips per development. **Q:** What is the PROS Plan? **A:** Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a 20-year implementation guide for improving parks, trails, and recreation programs. **Q:** What trail surface material is traditionally used in Bellingham? **A:** Crushed limestone, which works well and is ADA accessible when done right, but supply is running low in Whatcom County. **Q:** What percentage discount do developments get on impact fees in urban villages? **A:** 10-15% discount if located in urban villages with sidewalks and bike lanes, plus additional credits if near WTA GO lines. **Q:** What are the two types of parks in Bellingham? **A:** Community parks (regional, bigger, more parking, people drive to them) and neighborhood parks (walkable, dispersed, typically have half-court basketball). **Q:** What new park category is being created? **A:** Pocket parks - small infill parks, plazas, gardens, and improved rights-of-way as the city grows and densifies. **Q:** How many people responded to the Parks survey? **A:** About 200 people responded to the recreational needs survey, and 1,600 people provided feedback on the 11 draft goals and policies. **Q:** What was the top safety concern identified in public outreach? **A:** Road traffic safety - feeling unsafe walking and biking due to auto traffic, insufficient lighting, and not enough crossings. **Q:** Do city employees get free parking? **A:** Yes, employees at City Hall get free parking, plus free bus passes, and access to electric bikes for trips between city facilities. **Q:** What is the next Planning Commission meeting date for comprehensive plan work? **A:** June 26th for the Community Well-Being chapter, though they have a Berkeley Village meeting on June 5th. **Q:** What is being released to the public next week? **A:** The Community Well-Being chapter materials on the Engage Bellingham webpage. **Q:** What percentage of city employees use their free bus passes? **A:** Dylan didn't know the specific percentage when asked during the meeting. **Q:** When will the full technical Transportation chapter come back to Planning Commission? **A:** August, including the 20-year project list and other technical aspects currently being finalized. ---