August Updates: Shoreline Walking Tour of Mud Bay Cliffs
Would you like to explore Mud Bay Cliffs?
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs (PMBC) will lead a shoreline walking tour of Mud Bay Cliffs on
Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Come see the natural gem we are working to protect – the shoreline, cliffs, woodland, and almost certainly some of the wildlife, too!
If you would like to join us, please call Wendy Larson at 360-778-9834. We will meet at the public access trailhead immediately past 220 Sea Pines Road. Please note: we will not be going onto privately-owned property, so the tour will stay on the shoreline at low tide.
Important Ally Organization: Whatcom Million Trees Project
As we reported last month, Whatcom Million Trees Project (WMTP) supports our work, and just included an overview article about PMBC in the August 2022 edition of the WMTP Newsletter. We encourage you to support Whatcom Million Trees Project, and its work to protect trees and woodlands.
The article can be viewed online at https://preview.mailerlite.com/m1u0w1j9f6/2019709089646385184/u7l3/
The WMTP website can be viewed at https://whatcommilliontrees.org/
Subscribe to the WMTP newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.com/wmtp-newsletter-subscribe
Widespread Support
Over 175 Protect Mud Bay Cliffs yard signs are now visible across Bellingham! The widespread distribution of signs clearly demonstrates PMBC supporters extend across Bellingham, including these neighborhoods: Edgemoor, Chuckanut Bay communities, Fairhaven, South Hill, Happy Valley, City Center, Lettered Streets – and beyond. Our thanks to all who are helping publicize this cause by placing yard signs at your homes and places of business! To get your free, recyclable yard sign, please visit https://mudbaycliffs.org/join-in, then click the “Yard Sign” button. We will deliver a sign to your front door!
Developers’ Application Status
The city’s Planning Department is still waiting for the developers to address questions and provide information that was missing from their original permit application. We are nearing the end of the 120-day deadline the city gave the applicants to respond, so we expect some activity on that front soon. We’ll continue to keep you updated on the project as it moves through the planning process.
Progress on Multiple Fronts
We are hard at work, as we prepare to respond to whatever arises next in the process. Here are a few highlights:
Issues with the application have been further identified and documented, including issues related to: the stormwater report and plan, the geotech/geohazard report and plan, the traffic safety report, and the variances requested by the developer from the city.
One of the variances requested is a Street Vacation – essentially, the developer wants the city to give up its 10th Street right-of-way on the property, which extends from Viewcrest Road to Mud Bay. This right-of-way could provide public access to the shoreline and to views of the Mud Bay tidal basin and Chuckanut Bay.
PMBC has retained a professional Hydrologist, whose expertise can help us detail and prevent the adverse impacts of the proposed development. We have a remarkable opportunity to work with a well-respected professional who has a PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and has served as a stormwater modeling expert witness on behalf of citizen groups.
If and when the developers respond to the city’s Request for Information, we will need to raise additional funds for the work of our technical experts and attorney. As always, thank you for supporting our mission to reduce the scope and minimize the adverse impacts of this development.
Let’s keep up the good work
We greatly appreciate all you’ve done to help protect Mud Bay Cliffs: staying aware, talking with neighbors, writing letters, displaying PMBC yard signs, volunteering and contributing tax-deductible donations.
Want to do more? Here’s a list of things you can do now (if you’ve yet to do so):
Get Your Yard Sign: To get your free, recyclable yard sign, visit https://mudbaycliffs.org/join-in, then click the “Yard Sign” button. We will deliver a sign to your front door!
Write a Letter: Send a letter/email to Mayor Fleetwood (mayorsoffice@cob.org) and City Council (ccmail@cob.org) describing, in your own words, your concerns about the proposed development. The mailing address is: City Hall, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Eventually, we’ll also write letters to the Planning Department to speak out about problems with the application itself, during the Public Comment period (dates TBD by City Planning Department).
Sign Up for City Notices: You can receive notices from the city about the development and help signal widespread interest in this project by sending an email:
To: Senior Planner Kathy Bell at kbell@cob.org
Subject: Jones Preliminary Plat
Content: Your home mailing address
Include: “Please accept this email as my request to receive all notices regarding the Jones Preliminary Plat subdivision application at 352 Viewcrest Rd / Parcel # 370213075542”
Donate: If you’re able, please make a tax-deductible donation of any amount to the Protect Mud Bay Cliffs Fund using the “Donate” button on our website at https://mudbaycliffs.org/join-in. All donations are used solely for PMBC communications, and expert services (such as legal, geotechnical, hydrological). All day-to-day work is done by our completely volunteer team.
Thank you for helping Protect Mud Bay Cliffs!