Planning Commission

Planning Commission Minutes City of Bellingham, Washington Thursday 6:00 PM March 6, 2025 City Council Chambers Video Recorded https://meetings.cob.org Call to Order The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by the Chair at 6:00 PM. • Present: Mike Estes (Chair), Barbara Plaskett, Jerry Richmond Rose Lathrop, Russ Whidbee, and Scott Jones • Absent: Jed Ballew • Staff Present: Chris Behee, Long Range Division Manager, Anya Gedrath, Planner II -Approval of Minutes Public Comment Period During this time, citizens may take up to three (3) minutes to address the members about any topic not on the agenda. Citizens wishing to speak during this time will be recognized by the Chair for comment. Three citizens addressed the Commission on a variety of topics: • Housing stability and development slow-downs • Consider turning some of the empty buildings into housing units • Who does not pay property tax Agenda Items Work Session 1. The Bellingham Plan: Community Design Overview Anya Gedrath presented the Community Design Chapter of the Bellingham Plan. She also provided an overview of the discussion and questions/concerns that were heard when staff attended the Design Review Board and the Historic Preservation Commission meetings to share the update to the Bellingham Plan. She also highlighted some of the main topics that were seen in the public comments received. Anya spoke to the fact that HB 1293 and HB 1110 are the state legislation that influenced some of the proposed changes for this chapter. She noted that there was nothing eliminated, instead the goals were simply reorganized and condensed. The Commission and staff briefly discussed the following throughout the presentation: • How the community outreach/participation has helped to make the Bellingham Plan even better • Consider splitting the 2nd policy into more concise sections • Reference which policies were combined so members can see what exists vs. what is proposed  • What are some examples of how Flexible Right-of-Ways would be realized • What process changes might occur because of HB 1293 • Is there concern about creating under-sized open spaces • How is something determined to be historically significant Other Business 1. Staff Updates Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ___Heather Aven_______________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by both staff and Planning Commission members.