Special Update: RFI Response Received
Developers’ Response to the City’s Request for Information (RFI)
On 6/20/23, the city Planning Department received the developers’ response to the city’s second Request for Information (RFI). You can view the RFI Response Documents at bit.ly/RFISubmittal. The developers’ “RFI Response Letter” provides a partial summary of their responses and can be viewed at bit.ly/RFILetter. (The city’s website for this proposed project can be viewed here: www.cob.org/project/the-woods-at-viewcrest.)
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs (PMBC) is taking action:
Members of the PMBC Steering Committee are carefully reviewing the developers’ response, and all of the changes to their proposal, to continue to identify Significant Adverse Environmental Impacts.
We are scheduled to meet with city Planning Department officials during the week of 6/26/23 to discuss many of these impacts. We will encourage the city to issue a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) “Determination of Significance” (DS), and thereby require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS is necessary to ensure Bellingham’s planners have a comprehensive, unbiased evaluation of adverse impacts this project would have on both the natural and built environment, were it to proceed as proposed.
As we review the new project materials, we are assessing instances where the application is not in compliance with municipal, state, and federal regulations and requirements. We will publish a “Public Comments” guide with suggestions for how you may wish to communicate concerns to the city.
By 7/4/23, the City will issue either a third RFI, or a “Notice of Application” (a Notice of Application initiates the Public Comment period). Immediately after the Public Comment period begins, it is vital for all of us to send the city letters and emails identifying significant adverse impacts and describing our concerns about the proposed development. We will alert you as soon as there is information on when the Public Comment period will begin.
Sign Up Now for City Updates on the Proposed Project
If you’ve yet to do so, please send an email to Bellingham Senior Planner Kathy Bell (KBell@cob.org) with this request:
"Please accept this email as my request to receive via email all notices regarding the Woods at Viewcrest applications."
Why do this? Reasons include:
The Planning Department has asked us to make these requests, if we are interested in the proposed subdivision project.
The more of us who ask for updates, the greater the city Planning Department’s awareness of the high level of public interest.
A strong demonstration of community concern can help us going forward, as officials make decisions – potentially including the important city determination that this project could impose a Significant Adverse Environmental Impact.
Sat 7/15 Shoreline Walking Tour of Mud Bay Cliffs
Come see Bellingham's magical Mud Bay Cliffs up close from the Mud Bay flats on Saturday, July 15th. As one person put it: “I had no idea – the cliffs are majestic, and this entire area is amazingly beautiful. There is nothing else like this in Bellingham!” Our easy, informal walks along the shoreline at low tide are fun for the whole family.
Protect Mud Bay Cliffs (PMBC) will lead a shoreline walking tour on Saturday July 15th from 10:00 – 11:30 AM.
See the natural gem we are working to protect – the shoreline, cliffs, woodland, estuarine wetlands, and almost certainly some of the wildlife, too!
We will meet at the public access trailhead immediately past 220 Sea Pines Road, at 10:00 AM; please gather on the sidewalk at the top of the paved stairs. This is a straightforward walk at low tide: we will follow a paved pathway down to the shore, and the walk along the shore is on mostly flat pebbled ground. We suggest: wear a hat and/or sun screen, and wear clothes/ footwear which can get a bit wet and muddy.
Please note: we will not be going onto privately-owned property, so the tour will stay on the shoreline at low tide.
If you have questions, call Wendy Larson at 360-778-9834.
We hope you can join us!
Fundraising Goal of $30,000 – Time is of the essence
Thanks to all who have generously supported PMBC’s mission. Now that we are hiring technical experts to review the RFI response documents announced above, your contributions are needed more than ever to ensure we fully identify and document the impacts this subdivision would impose.
Donations of any size are greatly appreciated. If you’re able, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Protect Mud Bay Cliffs Fund using the “Donate” button on our website at www.mudbaycliffs.org/join-in.
All donations are used solely to pursue our mission of protecting Mud Bay Cliffs, and all PMBC members volunteer their time freely.