### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Hearing Examiner met on October 8, 2025, to consider a "one and one-half rule" short plat subdivision at 2609 Jaeger Street in the Columbia neighborhood. Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice presided over the hybrid in-person/Zoom hearing to review a proposal to split an 8,023 square foot lot into two parcels. ### Key Terms and Concepts **One and One-Half Rule:** A Bellingham Municipal Code provision allowing subdivision of lots that are at least 1.5 times the minimum lot size but less than twice the minimum size, creating one additional lot. **Short Plat:** A simplified subdivision process for creating four or fewer lots, requiring hearing examiner approval rather than full Planning Commission review. **Meets and Bounds Legal Description:** A property description that uses physical features and measurements rather than lot numbers from a recorded plat, required to qualify for the one and one-half rule. **Director's Interpretation:** An administrative decision clarifying how city code applies to a specific situation, issued before the subdivision application. **Government Lot:** An older type of property description that predates modern subdivision requirements, falling in a "gray area" for the one and one-half rule. **Infill Development:** Building new housing on vacant or underutilized lots within existing neighborhoods served by infrastructure. **Critical Areas:** Environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, streams, or geological hazards that require special review and protection measures. **Coal Mine Hazard:** A geological critical area designation for properties with potential underground mining impacts requiring building permit review. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Sharon Rice | City-appointed Hearing Examiner | | Ali Taishi | Applicant representative, AVT Consulting | | Doug Webb | Property owner | | Wyatt Rothenbuller | AVT Consulting staff member | | Ryan Nelson | City of Bellingham Planner II | ### Background Context The Columbia neighborhood features a mix of lot sizes, many created through similar subdivisions over the decades. The property at 2609 Jaeger Street sits on a corner with access to two improved streets and a gravel alley, making it well-suited for subdivision. The existing single-family home would remain on one lot, while a new vacant lot would be created for future development. This type of infill subdivision aligns with city housing policies encouraging better utilization of land already served by infrastructure. The one and one-half rule provides a pathway for modest densification without requiring full subdivision review processes, though it still requires hearing examiner approval to ensure code compliance. ### What Happened — The Short Version The hearing proceeded smoothly despite technical difficulties. Applicant Ali Taishi presented the proposal to divide the 8,023 square foot lot into two parcels—one retaining the existing home and one creating a new developable lot. The project required a director's interpretation to qualify under the one and one-half rule because the property has a government lot description rather than a standard meets and bounds description. City Planner Ryan Nelson supported the proposal, noting it meets all applicable criteria and serves city infill objectives. The only conditions involve standard requirements like alley access preference, tree preservation during future development, and an inadvertent discovery plan due to proximity to Squalicum Creek. No public testimony was provided, and the hearing examiner closed the record with a decision deadline of October 24, 2025. ### What to Watch Next - Decision release by October 24, 2025 (or October 28 if post-hearing comments are received) - Future development proposal for the new lot, which could range from single-family to four-unit infill toolkit projects - Building permit review for coal mine hazard and tree preservation requirements ---