January 10, 2017 Wendy Harris
Dear County Council,
As you are aware, it is a fatal flaw in the CAO that the county lacks baselines standards to help measure and monitor the county’s success in meeting no net loss standards. Thus, I had begun reviewing this information on my own in an attempt to help the county better achieve GMA compliance. Continue reading
June 19, 2016 Wendy Harris
I just reviewed the [Whatcom] county planning commission’s final Critical Area Ordinance Findings of Fact, after the planning commission refused to sign off on one of the findings drafted by the planning department.. a very unusual occurrence. Continue reading
Habitat Conservation Areas (HCA), (also referred as Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas FWHCA), are one of the 5 types of critical areas that are protected under the Critical Area Ordinance mandated by the Growth Management Act. Continue reading
20 hrs November 8, 2015 Wendy Harris
Thanks to the lobby efforts of our local BIA and property rights groups, most people, including many of our county and city council members remain confused about the actual standards and rules that apply to critical areas. Continue reading
What is happening here in Bellingham and Whatcom County to our wildlife, is happening all over the country and all over the planet, and it adds up to one big crisis. Continue reading
10 hrs September 11, 2015 Wendy Harris ACTION
Well, the county PC [Whatcom County Planning Commission] does not care, but if anyone else does, here is a copy of the comment that I submitted to the PC regarding the environment chapter of the comp. plan. Continue reading
14 hrs August 20, 2015 Wendy Harris ACTIONPlease mark your calendars for next Thursday for the COB planning commission hearing on the Critical Area Ordinance. Continue reading
19 hrs July 14, 2015 Wendy Harris
Last Tuesday, the county council approved a new wildlife advisory committee and is now seeking applications from qualified people to fill the technical advisory sub-committee that will be meeting first. There is supposed to be a website, but the link has not been working. Continue reading
16 hrs July 13, 2015 Wendy Harris
The Cow Beach project is full of manure. The city continues to assert that wildlife, habitat, people, pets and recreation are all compatible uses throughout the waterfront, finding consultants who reach conclusions that contradict Best Available Science. Some of the greatest damage is done through impacts to forage fish, which form the lynchpin of the aquatic food web on the Pacific coast. Continue reading
