The final Old Town neighborhood meeting

Just what is public participation? One would think the concept is clear and straight forward, but to our local planning department it seems to be something similar to a four letter word. As anyone who has attended the “public meetings” on the rezone of the Lettered Streets Neighborhood plan, dubbed “Old Town,” will tell you -- public participation is more trouble than its worth as far as the planning department is concerned. Which the three ring circus they put on made evident. I’m not certain if public input was what they were afraid of or if interference in their own agenda was their concern. Whichever the case may be, the process allowed very little actual input.

Apparently, public input, i.e. the tax paying citizen’s view points, desires, and concerns, just causes the public to expect that their input will be used in the planning process. Since using the public’s input is contrary to the planning department’s viewpoints, desires, and concerns, but required, they have designed (with the help of out of town consultants) a process that collects the information needed from the public that ensures the planning department’s goals. This game is called a charade, opps, I mean, charette, and if you want to play, you must play by their rules. For example, we were told to choose were we wanted the 3, 6, and 9 story buildings. We said, “We want a height limit of 3 stories to protect the view vista of major significance.” They said, “You will choose 3, 6, and 9 story locations or you will have to leave the table.” Public Input? Contrast that to “what is your vision for the area?” A nice, simple open ended question which draws out that bad concept, public input, which then must be worked into the plan.

As if the bullying weren’t enough, we were lied to. Tara Sundin told us 850 units had been “mandated” for the area, and at that density, “there would be a blanket of six story buildings.” Which was why they kindly and thoughtfully allowed us the option of 3, 6, and 9 story buildings. “By putting taller buildings somewhere else, you can save a view corridor here and there.” When I pushed Mrs. Sundin to the wall by insisting that she explain who mandated this and why we weren’t informed, she said the City Council did and if they hadn’t, they would. I continued relentlessly and eventually got the truth -- the number was made up -- possibly by the Planning Commission.

Then came the manipulation. In response to our concern that 10 story buildings along the bluff would dwarf the museum, we were gleefully informed that the museum IS a ten story building. “Yep, if you measure to the very tippy top of the lighten’ rod, you got yourself a 10 stories building‘.” It’s a very sad day indeed when the employees that work for you decide you are such a stupid child that you have to be lied to, and manipulated, in order to make the choices they want.

Sounds bad so far? It gets worse. During the presentation of the “public’s input,” we were informed that we were not only stupid, we were selfish, hateful, and didn’t love either our city or God. “Change is coming and anyone who doesn’t welcome it is out of touch.” “This area is at its lowest density in 150 years.” “Throngs of people used to come to this area and we should want that again.” At some point during the droning insultalogue by the Tacoma consultant (does anyone else see the irony here?), I wanted to stand up and scream, “Hello! Why are we here giving you our input on what we see the future to be? Did we say not to change? Or, change to reflect our neighborhood character? Did you hear us, or were you too busy planning?” But, the wind was knocked out of me as he went on insulting us and telling us how thankful we should be that our neighborhood was undergoing urban renewal and that we should, in fact, be celebrating it.

The outcome? Horrifying. Yuppie Ville. New Town. Just some of the words that came to mind when I saw THEIR vision for the area. Nothing fit with what we gave as input. But it all fit with what the consultants gave us as input. There were no questions allowed during or after the presentation, only comments. Questions, when asked individually of the staff and consultants, were answered differently by each person. The planning staff giving the least clear answers.

Maybe it’s just my arrogance, but somehow I truly believe that when the public is asked to give up hours of their time, without compensation, to provide input, we should be allowed to give our thoughts freely. And, afterwards to find those thoughts transformed into the plan, even if they conflict with the planning department’s agenda. We may not be professionals or planners, but we know what we need our town and neighborhood to be like and those needs should outweigh the developers, new comers, landowners, and planners wants. Our hope now lies with both our vision and the City Council’s wisdom to choose on the side of the public who reside in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood.



Marilyn R Williams
1715 F ST
715.9400

The OLD TOWN plan

The GGLO Power Point presentation is available. Any input?

"Better not Bigger" by Eben Fodor

John Watts, COUNCIL WARD #3: SE of "G" Street and Old Town: John Watts 647-2346 has read "Better not Bigger". In the 10/6/2001 issue of the BH, Another View, John give us a few provocative quotes.... and concepts.. "Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.. "The "Catch 22" of Growth: The better you make your community, the more people will want to live there. Until it is no better than any other community"... Regarding public involvement: "There are two staages to the public policy process: too early to tell, and too late to do anything about it."- Anonymous.
John, please have the BH publish this column again.... we need a refresh.....

Old Town Meeting, August 10th

The meeting started at 6:00 pm, David Christensen provided an exercise as to how our idea of the design of buildings in Old Town fits right into the Central Business District Design Standard.
Thanks to Chelle Davidson for the coverage in the Whatcom Independent , 8/12/05 Page 4.
Unfortunately, the photo's we reviewed were photos of current buildings. Toni has several photos from 1891 of commercial building in the Old Town, Lettered Streets area.... The photo's she has have many features that I like.... no, we don't want to reconstruct Old Town... just use some features. Do we need a design review committee of citizens and staff for buildings before a design is approved....? YES.

Buildout Potentials - Old Town

This is part of the 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement, UGA, Urban Fringe Area. Maximum estimated buildout: 1,763 Dwelling units at 55 (this is before they added the Prospect extension where my 20 story building is going to be... (you know, where the Post Office is). The only views I will block are the guys in the jail.
Now folks, let's get serious! There's really only two access streets, "Holly" and "F". I hear that Holly has about 15,000 trips a day at this time.... if we let 2.5 people move into each dwelling unit and they make two trips a day, that gives us an additional 8,815 trips.

Questions presented to Bellingham Planning on August 3rd 2005 (Note to planning: We know you are peeking at this Blog..... please respond

Planning: It has been a month.... please respond to the Lettered Streets Committee that asked these questions. I, as a resident would like to know and I really feel we deserve an answer. Thanks..... Earl
Questions for the City of Bellingham Planning Department concerning why we have Neighborhood Plans:
1. How is the character of the Lettered Streets Neighborhood (LSN)>Plan defined in Section V and stated on page 10 enforced? (see Attachment 1)
2. Notice of Public Meeting required for what processes? (see Attachment 1 - 1203 W. Holly Street)
3. How is the City Center Master Plan/Character Area Development (Chapter3 - No. 2 Old Town Area) enforced? (see attachment 2)
4. What are the current Zoning and Development Regulations for theLSN and where can the current Land Use and Development Code be found since taken out of the Neighborhood Plan in January 2005?
5. How does the Soil Stability Study conducted for BurlingtonNorthern for the slope along Holly Street and Eldridge assist in the development of properties along this natural bluff?
6. How does the draft 3/24/05 timeline for code development implement a design review process that will preserve the character of our neighborhood? (ee Attachment 3)
7. How is the Multifamily Residental Design Handbook enforced, especially for new construction less than nine (9) units?
8. Why is Old Town contiually taken out of the LSN Neighborhood Plan and boundaries defined differently in current planning process versus the City Center Master Plan, compared to our LSN Neighborhood Plan/Land Use Designation Map, and will it be a new neighborhood?
9. Should glass and steel structures be built right across the street from 100 year old historic homes and buildings? Should 100 year old structures have a view priority? (see Attachment 4 -- photos)
10. Is the current review checklist thorough enough to preserve the character of our historic neighborhoods? (see Attachment 5 -

GGLO is the consulting group that the City has hired to make presentations the Old Town Meeting

These folks seem to be doing a good job. Take a look at the "Greenwood Library" under the "Urban Design / Neighborhoods" link. Click the link above to view their web site.

Where do we get copies of these Community Plans?

Regional Urban Design Assistance Team Report.
Whatcom Creek Waterfront Action Program
Downtown Development Workshop
City Center Master Plan
Community Forum on Growth Management......
and Growth Management Plan

Water fron futures group: http://www.waterfrontfutures.org/index.htm (take a look at this one)

Old Town Planning Area & Village Trail

The Old Town area has been expanded to Prospect St and a part of the Central Business District south of Whatcom Creek. They also have moved the west side over to "G" Street, up to the Village Trail. After seeing what they did with the Village Trail at "F" and Bancroft, I'm concerned as to what they are going to do with the rest of the trail. Compare the trail entry at Broadway and the entry at "F"; the trail is no longer a trail at "F", it's a rather small walkway. The blacktop on the driveway at "F" Street should be removed and replaced with grass as in the photo on the above left.

Also, in June they changed the precint boundries. They moved Gene to "G" street West, and John Watts "G" street East. I assume so that he could have the complete Old Town area. Who do we call about the folks sleeping in cars and campers along "G" & "F"?
COUNCIL WARD #2: Lettered St's NW of "G": Gene Knutson 734-4686 w/733-1640
COUNCIL WARD #3: SE of "G", Old Town: John Watts 647-2346

Urban Village?

I've been to the June 29th meeting and July 20th meeting. We have had input and guidence from the City and GGLO, but I'm really am not sure what an Urban Village is yet. Is the plan to have Downtown Bellingham on one side of a street and an Urban Village on the other side? I can see how the Barkley area and Fairhaven area could be a village, but not sure how Old Town is going to be anything but a high priced condo project with waterfront views next to Downtown.

Old Town - Meetings 8/17

The 4th Neighborhood Meeting, Wednesday, August 17, 2005, 6:00 p.m.,Broadway Hall, 1300 Broadway.
Subject: Draft zoning change recommendations will be presented for citizen comment.Public input and summary materials are posted on the City's web-site, www.cob.org , under the Planning & Community Development Department. The direct link is www.cob.org/pcd/planning/growth/oldtown.htm. Staff will continue to post meeting results and draft plans throughout the course of this planning process. We welcome your written comments at any time throughout this process. You may send them to the Planning & Community Development Department, 210Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 or email Nicole Oliver at noliver@cob.org. For more information, please contact Tara Sundin, Planning and CommunityDevelopment Department, at 676-6880 or tsundin@cob.org