Goals
(23 total)
- CDG-1: Promote improvement in quality of public, residential, commercial and industrial development through high standards
- CDG-2: Interconnect parks and natural features through integrated network of trails, parks and open spaces
- CDG-3: Allow for growth and diversity through adaptable standards
- CDG-4: Successfully integrate mixed use development within four types of urban villages
- CDG-5: Landmark buildings in city center and Fairhaven continue to be restored and reused
- CDG-6: Zoning results in construction of innovative housing types in appropriate areas
- CDG-7: Promote community identity by emphasizing city center's natural assets and human scale
- CDG-8a: City has created and implemented design review process to ensure city center remains dominant visual area
- CDG-8b: City Center design review process results in development consistent with downtown remaining dominant visual area
- CDG-9: New land uses that promote public access to and along Bellingham Bay waterfront are encouraged
- CDG-10: Retain compact form, pedestrian orientation and unique qualities of Fairhaven
- CDG-11: Promote use of public spaces such as Fairhaven Village Green as meeting spaces
- CDG-12: Improve living environment and design characteristics of Bellingham's multi-family housing
- CDG-13: Increase awareness of what constitutes good multifamily design
- CDG-14: Multifamily design standards reflect city's commitment to good design and respect for existing neighborhoods
- CDG-15: Multifamily developments provide pleasant and safe housing with convenient access to community services
- CDG-16: Builders and developers provided with clear objectives and performance goals for multifamily housing quality
- CDG-17: Neighborhood and pocket urban villages are compatible with scale and character of surrounding neighborhood
- CDG-18: Neighborhood and pocket urban villages provide focal point for commercial, civic and recreational activities
- CDG-19: Neighborhood and pocket urban villages promote reduced automobile dependency and increased pedestrian/transit access
- CDG-20: Neighborhood and pocket urban villages accessed by pedestrian scale streets
- CDG-21: Enhance function, safety and appearance of Bellingham's arterial streets
- CDG-22: Create safe neighborhood street system in network configuration that prevents rapid or high volume traffic
- CDG-23: City streets encourage pedestrian activity with livelier street edges
Stronger Policy Language (30 policies)
- CDP-12: No increase in the number of billboard signs existing at the date of adoption of this plan should be allowed in the city or in the urban growth areas.
- CDP-14: Maintain and enhance the city center character, which includes pedestrian oriented storefronts and pedestrian scaled streetscapes, through specific attention to architectural detail.
- CDP-44: Landscaping and/or screening walls should be required to reduce the visual impact of large parking lots associated with residential and commercial uses.
- CDP-52: All buildings should front on a public or private street. Building facades should relate to the street and clear pedestrian entries should be provided from the street.
- CDP-66: Overhead utilities should be placed underground whenever new streets are constructed or new utilities are added to existing streets.
- CDP-69: A safe school route program should be defined and promoted. The designated routes to schools should be improved where necessary to assure safe passage.
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (44 policies)
- CDP-2: Consider establishing building height and bulk rules for all areas of the city as part of defining the "character" of each area.
- CDP-8: Future extension of lineal commercial development along arterials in areas already developed should be discouraged.
- CDP-19: Encourage the development of public art features with all new development.
- CDP-22: Canopies along the fronts of buildings should be encouraged where appropriate to provide rain shelter for pedestrians.
- CDP-41: Encourage side and rear yard parking by restricting parking in front yards. Require extensive screening in front yard parking areas.
- CDP-47: Encourage more efficient use of the land through devices such as use of substandard lots of record, flexible building setbacks and lot widths.
- CDP-57: Energy efficient design should be encouraged in all residential structures.
- CDP-61: Encourage a modified grid road system for new developments in areas where fairly level topographical conditions exist.
- CDP-63: Encourage the inclusion of street-side parking, bicycle lanes, setback sidewalks and planting strips on all new and retrofitted secondary arterials.
- CDP-75: Poster columns or kiosks which permit posting of information regarding upcoming events should be available in civic center, downtown, university or other areas.