Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

## Meeting Overview The February 12, 2025 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting brought together board members for a wide-ranging discussion about ongoing developments in Bellingham's parks and planning landscape. The meeting featured three special presentations — including an appearance by Mayor Seth Lund — alongside updates on urban village development, comprehensive planning, and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan update. Board members welcomed new member Austin Skipper, representing the Bellingham School District, while also hearing about upcoming changes to the city's advisory board structure. The morning session demonstrated the interconnected nature of parks planning with broader city initiatives, from housing development to climate adaptation. ## Advisory Board Structure Reform Initiative Mayor Seth Lund opened his presentation by acknowledging the service of all advisory board members before outlining a significant restructuring initiative affecting the city's more than 20 advisory groups. The goal, Lund explained, is to create consistency across boards that have operated with varying standards and approaches over the years. "Really, what we are endeavoring to do is try to standardize and create some consistency in our approach to our advisory groups," Lund said. "And that began last year with our guidelines document. And so we worked to create an expectations document that laid out some criteria and some expectations that you can have of city staff as you're in service on the advisory group." The most significant change involves ending automatic reappointments for long-serving members. Lund described situations where community members served 18 or 19 years in advisory roles — "which is extraordinary that they were so devoted to that issue. But it also doesn't create space for a different voice or perspective to step into that work." Under the new system, all current members across all boards will need to reapply as their terms near expiration. The city will communicate upcoming vacancies through different channels to give more people opportunities to participate in city governance. The initiative also focuses on lowering barriers to participation. Lund pointed to the Bellingham Plan team's use of stipends for community participation as a model they want to expand citywide. "So we're looking at trying to bring a program like that to scale too. So it's part of how we diversify who can be in service," he said. Board member questions revealed ongoing tension around subcommittees. One member asked about clarity on whether community members who haven't been formally appointed can participate in subcommittee work. Lund acknowledged this has been "problematic in some of our groups" and said the city prefers when work happens with full board consensus and proper staff liaison coordination. When asked about consolidating the number of advisory boards, Lund said it's under consideration, noting the challenge of government tendency to "just add more and we don't delete." He cited the new jail and behavioral health center project as an example — it added three standing meetings to mayoral and executive calendars. "We want to make sure we're being sensitive that we're prioritizing how we do this work," he said. ## Berkeley Urban Village Development Representatives from the Talbot Group presented their comprehensive urban village development plan, which has been in the entitlement process for four and a half years. CEO Ben Besley and development consultant John outlined their vision for what would become an officially recognized urban village — currently one of only seven planned in Bellingham. The development covers substantial acreage in the Berkeley area and represents a significant evolution from the current mixed-use development that began about 30 years ago with the Heath Techman building. Today, the Talbot Group owns about 80% of the nearly 1.2 million square feet of residential, office and retail space in the area. The centerpiece of their parks and open space planning involved an extraordinary tree survey — cataloguing 903 individual trees by species, size and health. "And they all have names," John noted. This inventory drove their road design decisions, with the team choosing to preserve tree stands rather than follow the original grid pattern for road dedications. "We looked at not only the topography, but how this would disrupt the existing stands of trees. It just didn't make sense. And so we started with like, let's preserve as many of these trees as possible," Besley explained. The result is a road network designed around tree preservation, creating development parcels while maintaining forest corridors. A major component of their plan is the "North 40" — a 40-acre area that Jane Talbot, third-generation family owner, insisted be preserved. "Early on, when Stone Jane got involved, Jane had a heart to preserve that. So that's been her mantra ever since," John said. The area includes wetlands and forested sections, with plans for interpretive trails designed by Jerry Walbor, who has worked with the city and parks department. Board members raised concerns about pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, particularly crossing Sunset Drive (Highway 20). The development team acknowledged this challenge while noting that the Washington State Department of Transportation has new mandates requiring highways through urban villages to be more pedestrian and bike-friendly — though those changes are expected to take 15 years. The project includes multiple green spaces and parks integrated throughout the development, designed to connect with existing city trail networks. "We really want this place to just kind of blend in and like, John was saying, sort of be an incubator where we can try new things," Besley said. ## Bellingham Plan Comprehensive Planning Update City planner Anya Gedrath provided an extensive overview of the comprehensive plan update — a 20-year planning document required by Washington's Growth Management Act and updated every 10 years. The update involves significant community engagement and must respond to new state legislation, particularly around housing and climate change. Population projections show Whatcom County growing to 293,000 people by 2045, with Bellingham specifically expected to reach about 130,000 — an increase of roughly 30,000 people. The assumed annual growth rate of 1,300 people per year aligns with actual growth patterns from 2014 to 2020. "One board member noted this seemed 'surprisingly low,'" but Gedrath confirmed the projections are "really consistent with what we've seen." New state legislation is driving many of the plan's changes. Key bills include middle housing legislation allowing more units per lot in all residential zones, housing affordability requirements, and House Bill 1181 requiring a climate element addressing both greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate adaptation. The planning process included extensive community engagement: three surveys reaching thousands of residents, 14 open houses with nearly 1,000 participants, and a year-long community work group with diverse representation. Special efforts targeted underrepresented communities, including Spanish-speaking focus groups in partnership with Vamos and stipends for community work group participants. The plan proposes expanding from eight to eleven chapters, adding new sections on climate, civic practices, and community well-being. "Those were really responsive to the times and where we're at now as opposed to when we updated the comprehensive plan in 2016," Gedrath explained. Parks connections appear throughout the plan beyond just the dedicated parks chapter. The community design chapter addresses preserving and activating open spaces and providing recreation opportunities. The environment and climate chapters discuss ecosystem protection and the connection between environmental access and human health. Economic development policies specifically highlight recreational amenities like Galbraith Mountain. The parks chapter itself is undergoing structural changes. Previously, the parks chapter and PROS plan were combined in one document containing both goals/policies and technical implementation details. The new structure separates these — the parks chapter will contain goals and policies consistent with other comprehensive plan chapters, while the PROS plan becomes a separate implementation document adopted by reference. When asked about tribal engagement, Gedrath said they reached out formally to the Nooksack and Lummi tribes through government-to-government communication from the mayor's office, though tribal members didn't participate in the community work group. They hope to continue getting feedback, especially on tribal relations goals and policies. The legislative adoption process runs through the rest of 2025, with planning commission review of different chapter packages from February through May, followed by city council consideration later in the year. ## PROS Plan Progress and Accomplishments Parks Planning Manager Lane Leschine provided a comprehensive review of accomplishments from the current 2020-2026 PROS plan, setting context for the upcoming update process. The detailed presentation walked through completed and ongoing projects across neighborhood parks, community parks, special use sites, open space and trails. Major neighborhood park accomplishments include purchasing 30 acres off Baker View (adjacent to My Garden nursery) and beginning master planning for 2025. The Shucksan Meadows Park playground was completed in 2020, and the first phase of Juliana Park was finished the same year. Story Brook Park development is underway, with construction beginning soon on the Birchwood neighborhood facility. Community park achievements were substantial. New restrooms were completed at Boulevard Park, and the second phase of Cordata Park was finished. A master plan was completed for what is now called the 100 Acre Wood (renamed during the planning process). The multi-purpose building at Lowell received a new roof, and design is about 60-90% complete for South State Street manufactured gas cleanup. Board discussion revealed some confusion about the plan's terminology. When a board member asked about the difference between "add" and "develop" in project listings, Leschine clarified that "develop" means build, while "add" likely referred to adding items to capital budgets during the 2019 planning process. Special use site progress includes the nearly complete pier renovation, which "will be open shortly." Accessibility improvements at Woodstock Farm are budgeted for 2027, and master plan improvements at Big Rock Garden are underway for 2025, including new fencing and a complete irrigation system. One notable item was the Cornwall Memorial Park Task Force from 2020. Board member Steve Janiszewski, who led the effort, explained it was formed in response to "a lot of vandalism, overnight parking, and some really undesirable activities happening at Cornwall Park." The one-year committee's work included police collaboration and site modifications to improve visibility and access. "I think the most important thing is that we've activated Cornwall to where some of those undesirable activities have moved on," Janiszewski said. Open space accomplishments were significant, with the city purchasing 236 acres of new parkland, open space and trail corridors during the six-year PROS plan period. This includes key missing links and infill for trail connections. A major announcement came during the meeting: City Council approved purchasing the Tall properties — 66 acres on Samish Crest connecting four different parcels from Governor Road to Palmer Road. "It's not a done deal yet, but it's been approved," Leschine noted. This acquisition will connect existing north and south open space parcels and provide new public access opportunities. Trail improvements include ongoing work on the Squalicum Creek corridor, with funding in 2025 and 2026 budgets for coordination with Public Works on the Meridian/Squalicum/Birchwood roundabout project. The Whatcom Waterway Park is temporarily paused pending feasibility work with the Port of Bellingham on wharf structural assessments. Work continues on the East Bear Creek open space (formerly called Riley Open Space), with 60% design completion on parking and trail improvements. Access will be from Northwest Drive, with a separate feasibility component examining connections to the Cordata Trail. ## New Membership and Closing Updates The board welcomed new member Austin Skipper, representing the Bellingham School District. Skipper introduced himself as a four-year district employee serving as capital projects and procurement supervisor, sharing departments between finance, capital projects, facilities and sustainability. Skipper described his background growing up on San Juan Island, attending Western Washington University for vehicle design, and living in Bellingham for about 15 years (with one year in Seattle). He's married with children ages four and seven months, making full use of parks and recreation services from City League basketball to Boulevard Park visits. His current projects include opening a student-based health center at Options High School next week, designed to provide no-barrier healthcare access to students. "The highest majority of students experiencing homelessness or just challenging situations are at our alternative high school," he explained. For the open seat left by Maggie Krieger, Darren Belt was recommended to the mayor. Belt has a strong background in athletics and recreation, specifically youth baseball, and previously interviewed for the position when Hollywood went through the appointment process. Director Peter McCaffrey provided brief updates on two major projects. Northern Lights Park, part of the Aurora Court development north of Costco, is nearly ready for city dedication. The narrow urban park features townhomes facing directly onto green space and includes playground equipment the board helped select. A small ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned. Little Squalicum Park construction is also nearing completion, waiting primarily on materials for final safety improvements. Some electrical work can be completed after opening, and the park could open within weeks. McCaffrey noted the historical significance of both the pier renovation and Samish Crest purchase, as both were part of original Greenways programs from early bond levies. The connection represents decades of community investment in parks and open space. As the meeting concluded, discussion touched on potentially restarting field trips as weather improves, with suggestions for visiting Northern Lights Park, the new Dewey Valley DNR parcels, and the East Bear Creek improvements. The meeting demonstrated the complex interconnections between parks planning, housing development, transportation infrastructure, and community engagement — all operating within evolving state requirements and local priorities shaped by climate change, equity concerns, and population growth.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-PRB-2025-02-12 ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on February 12, 2025, to receive updates on major planning initiatives affecting parks and recreation in the city. The meeting featured presentations on the Barkley Urban Village development, city advisory board reforms, the Bellingham Plan comprehensive plan update, and progress on the Parks Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan update. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Urban Village:** A designated high-density development area designed to concentrate growth while preserving surrounding open spaces and natural areas. Barkley is one of seven urban villages planned for Bellingham. **Comprehensive Plan:** A state-mandated 20-year planning document that guides city development, updated every 10 years. It includes chapters on land use, housing, parks, environment, and other topics. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington State legislation from 1990 requiring cities to plan for anticipated population growth and development in sustainable ways. **PROS Plan:** Parks, Recreation, and Open Space plan - Bellingham's implementation document for parks planning that identifies specific projects and improvements over a six-year period. **Type 6 Legislative Process:** A formal city process for amending comprehensive plans, limited to once per year and requiring Planning Commission and City Council review with public hearings. **Advisory Board Reappointment Process:** New city policy requiring all advisory board members to reapply when their terms end, rather than automatic continuation, designed to diversify participation. **Level of Service:** Parks planning metric measuring whether neighborhoods have adequate access to parkland and recreation facilities based on population and geographic distribution. **Greenways:** The voter-approved funding program supporting acquisition and development of parks, trails, and open spaces throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Austin Skipper | New Board Member, Bellingham School District Representative | | Mayor Seth Lund | Mayor of Bellingham | | Anya Gedrich | City Planner, Long Range Planning Team | | Peter Willott | Parks Department Staff | | Lane Weinmann | Parks Department Staff | | Ben Beasley | CEO, Talbot Group (Barkley developers) | | John (last name not provided) | Talbot Group representative | | Bree Loewen | Board member/meeting facilitator | | Steve Janiszewski | Former Cornwall Memorial Park Task Force leader | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a significant planning period for Bellingham, with multiple long-range plans being updated simultaneously. The city is expecting to grow from about 100,000 to 130,000 people over the next 20 years, requiring careful coordination between housing development, transportation infrastructure, and parks and recreation services. The Barkley Urban Village represents one of the largest private development projects in the city's planning pipeline, covering nearly 80 acres with plans for significant residential and commercial development while preserving substantial open space. This development will test new approaches to integrating private and public open space systems. Simultaneously, the city is reforming how its 20+ advisory boards operate, moving away from automatic reappointments that sometimes resulted in members serving 18-19 years. The new approach emphasizes broader community engagement and removing barriers to participation, including potentially providing stipends for childcare and other support. ### What Happened — The Short Version The board welcomed Austin Skipper as its new member representing Bellingham School District and heard about his background in capital projects and procurement. Mayor Lund visited to explain new policies for advisory boards, emphasizing the need to diversify participation and create more opportunities for community members to serve. Representatives from the Talbot Group presented their plans for Barkley Urban Village, showing how they surveyed 903 individual trees to design roads that preserve existing forest stands while creating development parcels. They're planning significant open space preservation, including a "North 40" area that Jane Talbot specifically wanted to protect. City planner Anya Gedrich updated the board on the Bellingham Plan, the city's comprehensive plan update. She explained how parks connects to multiple chapters beyond just the parks chapter, including community design, environment, climate, transportation, and the new community well-being chapter. Parks staff reviewed accomplishments from the current 2020-2026 PROS plan, showing which projects were completed, underway, or still in planning phases. Highlights included acquiring 236 acres of new parkland, completing major projects like the pier renovation, and upcoming openings at Northern Lights Park and Little Squalicum Park. ### What to Watch Next - Planning Commission meetings on the Bellingham Plan throughout spring 2025, with parks chapter review scheduled for May - March Parks Board meeting featuring public survey results and draft goals for the new PROS plan - Barkley Urban Village adoption process through Planning Commission and City Council - Northern Lights Park ribbon cutting ceremony (timing to be announced) - Little Squalicum Park opening within the next few weeks ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** BEL-PRB-2025-02-12 **Q:** Who is Austin Skipper and what is his role on the Parks Board? **A:** New board member representing Bellingham School District, works as capital projects and procurement supervisor for the district. **Q:** How many advisory boards does the City of Bellingham currently have? **A:** More than 20 advisory groups across various city departments and functions. **Q:** What is the new city policy regarding advisory board reappointments? **A:** All current members must reapply when their terms end rather than receiving automatic continuation, designed to diversify participation. **Q:** How many trees did the Talbot Group survey at Barkley Urban Village? **A:** 903 trees, each catalogued by species, size, and health to design roads that preserve existing forest stands. **Q:** What is the "North 40" at Barkley Urban Village? **A:** A large forested area that Jane Talbot specifically wanted to preserve as open space rather than develop. **Q:** When was Washington's Growth Management Act adopted? **A:** 1990, requiring cities to plan for anticipated growth and development. **Q:** How often must comprehensive plans be updated in Washington State? **A:** Every 10 years, with the current Bellingham Plan update expected for adoption by end of 2025. **Q:** What is Bellingham's expected population growth over the next 20 years? **A:** From about 100,000 currently to approximately 130,000 people by 2045. **Q:** How many acres of new parkland has the city acquired during the current PROS plan period? **A:** 236 acres of new parkland, open space, and trail corridors since 2020. **Q:** What major property purchase did City Council approve on February 10, 2025? **A:** The Toll properties - 66 acres on Chuckanut Crest that will connect existing north and south open space parcels. **Q:** When will the Parks chapter of the Bellingham Plan be reviewed by Planning Commission? **A:** May 2025, after other chapters are reviewed in February through April. **Q:** What is the timeline for completing the new PROS plan? **A:** Public survey open through February 2025, with results and draft goals coming to March board meeting. **Q:** Which park will open to the public within the next few weeks? **A:** Little Squalicum Park, pending completion of final safety improvements and electrical work. **Q:** What makes Northern Lights Park unique in design? **A:** It's a long, narrow urban park with townhomes facing directly onto the park, creating an integrated neighborhood design. **Q:** What is the purpose of the Type 6 legislative process? **A:** Formal process for amending comprehensive plans, limited to once per year with Planning Commission and City Council review. **Q:** How many people provided feedback during the Bellingham Plan community engagement process? **A:** Over 4,000 people through surveys, open houses, and online engagement platforms. **Q:** What percentage of survey respondents said neighborhood parks were important community amenities? **A:** 45% of over 4,000 respondents identified neighborhood parks as important to have access to. **Q:** What is being planned to improve sunset Boulevard's pedestrian safety? **A:** Department of Transportation is working to make highways through urban villages more pedestrian and bike friendly. **Q:** Which Cornwall Park improvements were recommended by the task force? **A:** Working with police, improving sight lines, activating the park with pickleball and other activities, and piloting nighttime gate locking. **Q:** What is the current status of the partnership with the YMCA for aquatic facilities? **A:** Conversations continue with new YMCA leadership, but focus has shifted to civic athletic complex improvements and Arne Pool assessment. ---