As you may know, Horizon Bank and David Edelstein are moving full speed ahead with the Fairhaven Highlands development that will destroy Chuckanut Ridge and could:
Create severe traffic congestion;
Threaten pedestrian safety;
Unduly burden the 12th Street Bridge;
Overcrowd our parks and recreational resources;
Increase the likelihood of flooding and landslides in our neighborhoods; and
Adversely impact property values.
Now is a critical time in our mission to save this magnificent urban forest and wetland habitat. The city has determined that Fairhaven Highlands would have a significant impact on the environment and has hired ESA Adolfson to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study these adverse impacts.
The adverse impacts of this development will be widespread. Residents from all five Southside neighborhoods, including South, Happy Valley, Edgemoor, Fairhaven and South Hill, will be affected. Additionally, all of Whatcom County will deeply regret the loss of this highly valued forest and wildlife habitat if we allow this destruction to occur.
The complete article with many informative links can be viewed at An Important Update About Chuckanut Ridge & Fairhaven Highlands From Responsible Development (http://www.rdnow.org/Documents/EIS%20Information%202.pdf).
Friday, January 4, 2008
Saturday, December 8, 2007
City Issues Scoping Notice for Fairhaven Highlands Environmental Impact Statement
Date: December 7, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the City of Bellingham’s Planning Director and SEPA Official, Tim Stewart, issued a determination that the proposed Fairhaven Highlands development would have a significant impact on the environment and would require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study those impacts. The determination requests public comment on the scope of the EIS, and sets a public hearing on Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. to hear public testimony.
Fairhaven Highlands is a development proposed in April of 2005 by Greenbriar Northwest Associates, LLC located within Bellingham city limits between Chuckanut Drive, the Interurban Trail, Old Fairhaven Parkway, and Old Samish Highway.
This planned development proposal includes 739 units of single and multi-family residential units, a 6,000 square-foot clubhouse, and related public and private infrastructure. Primary access to the development is proposed from Chuckanut Drive, and street improvements would be provided in accordance with State and local requirements.
Last February, Greenbriar requested that the City of Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department initiate the preparation of an EIS for Fairhaven Highlands. “The purpose of the EIS is to provide fair, objective and factual information about the site and its environment.” said Tim Stewart, the Planning and Community Development Director and SEPA Official for the City of Bellingham. “Good information, generated in an open and transparent process, will result in higher quality decisions about the proposal, the site and ultimately the land use and development permits which will be required before any development may occur. The EIS process allow us to seek the very best information before any decisions are made about the permits,” he added.
The Scoping meeting is the first step in the permitting process. Following the establishment of the scope of the impact statement, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be published this spring. All interested parties will be able to comment on the DEIS at a Public Hearing. Those comments will then be incorporated into a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which will then be published. It is only after the publication of the FEIS that the review of the actual land use permits will be conducted. During the land use permitting process, additional opportunities for public input will be available.
The expense of the EIS will be borne by Greenbriar, and the City of Bellingham is the designated Lead Agency.
The Scoping Notice issued today includes a description of the development, what development alternatives will be studied (including a “no action” alternative), and the areas that will be studied under the EIS. Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS, and a public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Bellingham Municipal Court to hear public testimony.
Additionally, public comment may be directed to the City of Bellingham either in writing or via email to Nicole Oliver, Communication Coordinator, Planning & Community Development, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, 98225, noliver@cob.org. Public comments will be accepted through Wednesday, January 23rd at 4:30 p.m. For extensive information and background on the proposal, visit the Fairhaven Highlands page on the COB website (http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/fairhaven-highlands.aspx).
Media Contact:
Tim Stewart
Planning & Community Development
210 Lottie Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6982
tstewart@cob.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the City of Bellingham’s Planning Director and SEPA Official, Tim Stewart, issued a determination that the proposed Fairhaven Highlands development would have a significant impact on the environment and would require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study those impacts. The determination requests public comment on the scope of the EIS, and sets a public hearing on Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. to hear public testimony.
Fairhaven Highlands is a development proposed in April of 2005 by Greenbriar Northwest Associates, LLC located within Bellingham city limits between Chuckanut Drive, the Interurban Trail, Old Fairhaven Parkway, and Old Samish Highway.
This planned development proposal includes 739 units of single and multi-family residential units, a 6,000 square-foot clubhouse, and related public and private infrastructure. Primary access to the development is proposed from Chuckanut Drive, and street improvements would be provided in accordance with State and local requirements.
Last February, Greenbriar requested that the City of Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department initiate the preparation of an EIS for Fairhaven Highlands. “The purpose of the EIS is to provide fair, objective and factual information about the site and its environment.” said Tim Stewart, the Planning and Community Development Director and SEPA Official for the City of Bellingham. “Good information, generated in an open and transparent process, will result in higher quality decisions about the proposal, the site and ultimately the land use and development permits which will be required before any development may occur. The EIS process allow us to seek the very best information before any decisions are made about the permits,” he added.
The Scoping meeting is the first step in the permitting process. Following the establishment of the scope of the impact statement, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be published this spring. All interested parties will be able to comment on the DEIS at a Public Hearing. Those comments will then be incorporated into a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which will then be published. It is only after the publication of the FEIS that the review of the actual land use permits will be conducted. During the land use permitting process, additional opportunities for public input will be available.
The expense of the EIS will be borne by Greenbriar, and the City of Bellingham is the designated Lead Agency.
The Scoping Notice issued today includes a description of the development, what development alternatives will be studied (including a “no action” alternative), and the areas that will be studied under the EIS. Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS, and a public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Bellingham Municipal Court to hear public testimony.
Additionally, public comment may be directed to the City of Bellingham either in writing or via email to Nicole Oliver, Communication Coordinator, Planning & Community Development, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, 98225, noliver@cob.org. Public comments will be accepted through Wednesday, January 23rd at 4:30 p.m. For extensive information and background on the proposal, visit the Fairhaven Highlands page on the COB website (http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/fairhaven-highlands.aspx).
Media Contact:
Tim Stewart
Planning & Community Development
210 Lottie Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6982
tstewart@cob.org
New Blog for Chuckanut Ridge
There is a great deal of news and information out there about Chuckanut Ridge (formerly known as the 100 Acre Woods) and the proposed Fairhaven Highlands Development. This blog has been created to help centralize the news and events regarding the issues. Watch for more articles to be posted and feel free to add your comments. Contact the webmaster if you would like to post articles or information on this blog.
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