Bellingham extends ban on certain kinds of development in one neighborhood

Bellingham City Council members on Monday night unanimously extended a development ban in parts of the Silver Beach neighborhood near the west end of Lake Whatcom, the city’s drinking water source.

Permits and applications for multi-family construction in Silver Beach were restricted for one year under an emergency ordinance that took effect July 11, 2022.

If approved on a final reading June 26, those limits would be extended to Jan. 11, 2024, allowing Planning and Community Development Department officials to study the land use and zoning in four “sub areas” near the lake, which provides drinking water for about 100,000 Whatcom County residents.

Several residents spoke in favor of the ban during a public hearing, including Randall Potts of Springland Lane, one of the areas where development would be prohibited for another half-year.

“These wetland areas are a nursery for birds, animals and amphibians,” Potts told the council. “You cannot increase density without the infrastructure to support it.”

Some speakers seemed to misunderstand the intent of the ban, thinking that the City Council was considering plans to raze and develop a forested area south of Springland Lane.

But Councilman Michael Lilliquist and Public Works Director Eric Johnston said that wasn’t the case.

“All of those areas are owned by the city. They are all protected as parks. We’re not aware of any plans by the city to cut down trees,” Johnston said.