Key Commitments
135,829 total population by 2045; 66,109 housing units by 2045; 89,768 jobs by 2045
Goals
(6 total)
- LU-A: Clustering Growth – Limit urban sprawl, encouraging sustainable growth in compact, walkable and transitable areas
- LU-B: Urban Growth Area – Manage long-term community needs through effective and sustainable UGA planning and annexation
- LU-C: Urban Villages – Foster vibrant urban villages
- LU-D: Transit Corridors – Encourage growth in proximity to transit and support increased transit service as areas grow
- LU-E: Land Use Designations – Ensure a mix of land uses across the city with capacity to meet future needs
- LU-F: Complete Neighborhoods – Promote neighborhood resilience and vibrancy through support and development of mixed neighborhoods
Stronger Policy Language (24 policies)
- LU-1: Provide sufficient land area and densities to meet Bellingham's projected needs for housing, employment and public facilities.
- LU-11: Utilize and periodically update an annexation plan that includes for each area of the UGA and UGA Reserve identification and assignment of future land use and zoning designations.
- LU-31: Regularly monitor land use capacity, especially during rezone discussions, to assess the available supply, adequacy and serviceability of developable land.
- LU-43: Separate heavy industrial uses from incompatible land uses such as housing or schools.
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (30 policies)
- LU-4: Encourage design flexibility (e.g. clustering) to preserve existing site features, including trees, wetlands, streams, natural topography and similar features.
- LU-6: Encourage the assembly and redevelopment of underdeveloped parcels through incentives and public/private partnerships.
- LU-30: Identify opportunities and encourage action to redevelop auto-oriented commercial areas into more compact, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use nodes of activity.
- LU-50: Promote small-scale commercial uses (e.g. corner stores) within neighborhoods to encourage walkability and provide opportunities for employment.