Major Development on Lake Whatcom at Lake Whatcom Wildwood Resort / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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wildwood resort optional dns

Click the graphic to view this full document on the Whatcom County website.

June 10, 2017  Wendy Harris

The county intends to issue a SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) for the most significant development on the shorelines of Lake Whatcom that I have seen in the last 10 years. It is being done under the optional DNS procedures of SEPA which does not allow for a public hearing. The public may provide written comment on this project until July 5th.http://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/28929. Continue reading →

Planning Commission, With Help From Friends In Ag, Undermine Court Required Compliance With Hirst Decision / Facebook Post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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personius impervious hirst 04052017

Click the graphic above to view the full April 5, 2017 Memorandum from Gary Davis,  Whatcom County Senior Planner, “Impervious Surface and Animal Husbandry Proposals”

4 hrs  April 9, 2017  Wendy Harris

While the county continues to seek state legislative fixes to the Hirst decision, and at all costs avoid its obligation to actually plan, the county is still under a court imposed obligation to come into compliance with the GMA, and protect rural water quality and quantity. (Yes, somehow with all the hysterical theatrics that surrounds this decision, it is easy to forget that it is, after all, a GMA compliance case). Continue reading →

General Overview of Problems With Critical Area Ordinance / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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council-linked-page-to-cao

10 hrs  February 22, 2017  Wendy Harris

Will the council approve a Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) that does not comply with the GMA? It is looking more and more likely. I am sick to my stomach thinking that after just one “general issues” work session, council will be ready to vote on the updated Critical Area Ordinance. It really did not help that few people participated, but how could they when there was no real training provided on such a technical issue? Perhaps if the CAO was not improperly separated from the Comp. Plan update, it would have been easier to obtain public input. Continue reading →

Surly Citizens Object to Backroom Deals / NorthwestCitizen, Guest writer, Anne Mackie

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At the height of the objections to the rule breaking by Vargas.

Anne Mackie guest writes about the Monday, Oct 17, Bellingham City Council meeting.  She is a community leader who lives in the York neighborhood.

Wed, Oct 19, 2016, 4:27 pm // Guest writer, Anne Mackie

What does it look like when a special interest group has your City Council president in their back pocket? It looks like what transpired at the October 17 Bellingham City Council Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan.

Rumors of a “crowd control problem” at city hall Monday night circulated on police scanners. As someone who was there, I can say the only control problem was emanating from Council President Pinky Vargas who violated meeting rules to accommodate her friends in the real estate and building industry. […]

Read Anne’s complete article on NorthwestCitizen here.

Continue reading →

Comprehensive Plan process, City of Bellingham: revised schedule of work sessions / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Dick Conoboy

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bellingham committee of the whole conoboy

Click on the graphic to access COB Special Committee Of The Whole Meeting Agenda on the COB website.

3 hrs  June 23, 2016  Dick Conoboy

For those of you who are following the Comprehensive Plan process for the City of Bellingham, there is a revised schedule of work sessions as the city council moves the sessions to the Committee of the Whole which meets in the afternoon. Continue reading →

Hey, how about a new feature on the Hawk called Stupid Planning Tricks? / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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ostriches on road

2 hrs  March 11, 2016  Wendy Harris

Hey, how about a new feature on the Hawk called Stupid Planning Tricks? Post a video here [in the Whatcom Hawk Facebook group] showing how dumb a planning decision is, whether it is for the comp. plan [Comprehensive Plan] or CAO [Critical Areas Ordinance] update, an existing ordinance, a Hearing Examiner decision, etc.

I will go first. Continue reading →