Back-to-Back Milestones
January 17, 2026
WE DID IT!
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs (PMBC) achieved two back-to-back milestones this week in our ongoing commitment to preserve what we love about living in this magnificent place.
First, the SEPA Appeal Hearing initiated by PMBC came to a close on Friday, January 16 after five days of complex proceedings.
During this hearing, PMBC’s attorneys challenged the City’s failure to require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the ill-conceived subdivision proposal on the steep and unstable cliffs overlooking Mud Bay.
Similarly, the public Land-Use Hearing on the permit applications for the subdivision was held on Wednesday evening, January 14.
PMBC’s Whatcom Watch article Mud Bay at a Crossroads: Protecting Cliffs, Wetlands, and Community provides details regarding major areas of concern.
Links to the videos of the SEPA hearings are listed below. We will post a link for the public land-use hearing once we receive it from the Hearing Examiner.
PMBC extends our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in this process to protect Mud Bay and preserve public safety and the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods.
YEARS OF HARD WORK PAYS OFF
Preparing for and participating in these hearings was a major undertaking for an all-volunteer community group.
Your comments — both in writing and at the hearings — raised scores of regulatory compliance issues with the proposed subdivision.
During the Land-Use Hearing, nearly three dozen passionate neighbors shared poignant stories and critical information about the project’s shortcomings.
Afterwards, Hearing Examiner Sharon Rice was gushing with compliments on the scope and quality of your public comments. Examiner Rice described the entirety of your presentations as “pretty remarkable!”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Now that the public hearings are complete, PMBC’s attorneys will prepare a written closing brief to substantiate our appeal.
The legal conclusions developed by our attorneys will confirm PMBC’s claim that the city’s failure to require an EIS was clearly erroneous and must be reversed.
The Hearing Examiner established the following deadlines for the SEPA appeal:
2/6/26 – PMBC’s closing brief
2/27/26 – Response briefs by Applicant and City
3/16/26 - PMBC’s reply to Applicant and City briefs
3/31/26 – Decision by Hearing Examiner Rice
In addition, the Applicant and City must respond to the scores of public comments they received on the application permits. The Hearing Examiner will issue her decision on the permit applications on or before 3/31/26.
GRATITUDE
As always, PMBC cannot thank you enough for your steadfast support, your contagious energy, and your positive outlook.
We greatly appreciate all you have done as a community to ensure Bellingham continues to be an amazing place to live.
As the process moves forward, we will keep you informed of the latest developments.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us anytime at info@mudbaycliffs.org with your questions, concerns or comments.
Wishing you all the very best,
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs Steering Committee
LINKS TO SEPA APPEAL HEARING VIDEOS
Day 1 - 1/12/26: bit.ly/PMBC-Hearing-1-12-26 - Passcode 7o*XsqxP
Day 2 - 1/13/26: bit.ly/PMBC-Hearing-1-13-26 - Passcode: Z^e^1Y%!
Day 3 - 1/14/26: bit.ly/PMBC-Hearing-1-14-26 - Passcode: @Uj=tT0m
Days 4 & 5 - 1/15-16/26: bit.ly/PMBC-HEARING-1-15-26 - Passcode: 8nf6A6?p