Planning Commission

Planning Commission Minutes City of Bellingham, Washington Thursday 6:00 PM May 1, 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: Barbara Plaskett (Vice-Chair), Daniel Bloemker, Jed Ballew, Jerry Richmond, and Rose Lathrop • Absent: Mike Estes and Russ Whidbee • Staff Present: Chris Behee, Long Range Division Manager (PCDD); Sydney Prusak, Planner II (PCDD) -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 Work Session 1. The Bellingham Plan: Economic Development Overview p. 2 Sydney Prusak provided a presentation on the Economic Development Chapter of the Bellingham Plan and invited discussion and feedback. She highlighted the City’s role in economic development. The Commission and staff briefly discussed the following throughout the presentations: • The possibility of a future employment study and what it could entail • Lack of childcare options and what is being done to address that in the Bellingham Plan • The need for remote- and gig-worker policies to attract this type of employment to the city • Include the ways the city is willing to support the non-profits in the plan • How employment lands are determined • Industrial land study • How to prioritize the work to be done based on what the public provided feedback on • Changes to urban village restrictions Other Business 1. Staff Updates Chris Behee navigated to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement to show members and public how to find it on the City’s website. He also shared upcoming meeting dates. Adjournment Minutes prepared by: ____Heather Aven_______________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by both staff and Planning Commission members.