Planning Commission

Planning Commission Minutes City of Bellingham, Washington Thursday 6:00 PM April 3, 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), Daniel Bloemker, Jed Ballew, Jerry Richmond, Rose Lathrop, and Russ Whidbee • Absent: Barbara Plaskett • Staff Present: Anya Gedrath, Planner II (PCDD) and Claire Fogelsong, Mayor’s Office -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. No testimony received. Agenda Items Presentation 1. The Bellingham Plan: Climate and Environment Chapters Overview Anya Gedrath provided a presentation on the Climate and Environment Chapters of the Bellingham Plan and invited discussion and feedback. She shared some of the public comments received specific to the two chapters under review by the Commission. Claire Fogelson provided a brief background on the work the city has done related to the climate protection to date. Anya spoke to the new state requirements included in HB 1181 and highlighted that, not only is Bellingham required under GMA to comply with these regulations, the climate elements must maximize economic, environmental, and social co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice to avoid worsening environmental health disparities. She walked through each of the goals in both chapters. The Commission and staff briefly discussed the following throughout the presentations: • Importance of ensuring smart and sustainable development patterns are included in the climate chapter as well. • Consideration of district heating  • Rationale for including Lake Whatcom in the Environment Chapter • Native plantings – is there a way to determine which plants will continue to thrive, or are there different plants that would thrive, in the changing climate • Urban Tree Canopy Plan and Urban Forestry • The importance of policies that prioritize public access to waterways • Environmental resilience – are we concerned about how we are measuring what is “appropriate” Other Business 1. Staff Updates • April 17th has been cancelled • Upcoming Meeting Topics Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ___Heather Aven_______________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by both staff and Planning Commission members.