### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Design Review Board (DRB) met on November 19, 2024, to conduct a design response meeting for the People's Bank Fairhaven Branch building project. The Board reviewed the final design proposal for a new 2-story, 4,780 square foot commercial building at the former Zane Burger location (1315 12th Street) and approved a requested departure from design standards. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Design Response Meeting:** A formal DRB meeting where applicants present their final design proposal after incorporating feedback from earlier guidance meetings, seeking final approval. **Design Departure:** A formal request to deviate from specific municipal code requirements, requiring board approval based on demonstrating the alternative meets design intent. **Fairhaven Urban Village Design Review District:** A special zoning area with specific design standards intended to preserve the historic character and pedestrian-friendly environment of the Fairhaven neighborhood. **Historic Influence Area:** A designation for areas adjacent to historic districts that must consider historic context in new development while allowing more contemporary design approaches. **Building Wall Edge:** A zoning requirement that buildings maintain continuous frontage along sidewalks to create a cohesive streetscape and pedestrian environment. **Cornice:** A horizontal decorative molding that crowns a building or element, traditionally used to create visual separation between building sections. **Pilasters:** Rectangular columns attached to walls that project slightly from the surface, used to create rhythm and depth in building facades. **Solar Shades/Sunshades:** Horizontal exterior fixtures designed to reduce solar heat gain through windows while maintaining architectural aesthetics. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Ryan Van Straten | DRB Chair | | Maggie Bates | DRB Member | | Coby Jones | DRB Member | | David Christensen | DRB Member (HPC Subcommittee) | | Lexie Costic | DRB Member (HPC Subcommittee) | | Michael Stevens | Project Architect, Dykeman Architects | | Emmy Scherrer | City Planner | | Fiona Starr | Administrative Staff | ### Background Context This project represents the redevelopment of a prominent corner in Fairhaven's commercial core, replacing the former Zane Burger restaurant with a modern bank branch that must balance contemporary commercial needs with historic preservation goals. The Fairhaven area is Bellingham's historic downtown, featuring late 1800s buildings with Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The site's location directly adjacent to the historic Sycamore Building and across from the Waldron Building makes design compatibility particularly important. The project required a departure because geotechnical analysis determined the new building must be set back at least 8 feet from the adjacent Sycamore Building's foundation to prevent structural damage. Rather than build exactly to this minimum, the applicant proposed a 25-foot setback that creates an outdoor seating area, requiring formal approval since it breaks the traditional continuous building wall requirement. ### What Happened — The Short Version Michael Stevens, the project architect, presented the final design responses to early guidance feedback from June 2024. He detailed solutions for lighting, solar shades, window awnings, cornice detailing, and site improvements. The Board reviewed the complete design including previously unseen north and east elevations. After minimal discussion and no public comment, the Board unanimously approved the requested departure to allow the 25-foot building setback for outdoor seating. The only minor concern was a preference for dark-colored chain link fencing with privacy slats in a rear service area. ### What to Watch Next - Building permit submittal with detailed lighting plan as required by DRB condition - Final mechanical screening review during building permit process - Construction timeline and coordination with adjacent building foundation protection measures