Urgent Appeal - Your Help is Needed NOW
Protect the Mud Bay Public Shoreline and Forested Uplands.
Protect the Salmon.
Protect the Herons.
Protect Public Safety.
Protect Your Family.
Please Donate Now, to Protect Mud Bay Cliffs.
Funding Goal of $50,000
Donations are urgently needed now, as PMBC readies for legal battle. Please make a tax-deductible donation to Protect Mud Bay Cliffs using the “Donate” button on our website at: MudBayCliffs.org/join-in or scanning this QR code.
THE THREAT
The Woods at Viewcrest subdivision proposal on the cliffs overlooking Mud Bay is advancing rapidly. This ill-conceived and poorly-designed development threatens to irreversibly damage the Mud Bay estuary, nearby forested cliffs, and critical wildlife habitat. The proposal will also threaten the safety of children and adults who walk, run, cycle, and drive on Edgemoor’s narrow, winding streets. Construction will involve years of blasting and rock breaking that will threaten the foundations of nearby homes, create noise disturbances throughout the neighborhood, and potentially limit access to the public shoreline.
THE MOMENT
Contrary to virtually all public input and evidence establishing the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to objectively evaluate the project’s significant adverse impacts, it appears the city is not planning to require an EIS. Instead of issuing a Determination of Significance (DS) under SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act), an early draft of the city’s SEPA report indicates the city plans to issue a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS). Only a DS triggers the EIS requirement. An MDNS does not.
In essence, if the city issues its draft SEPA report as is, with an MDNS, then the city will have failed to fully consider the extensive public comments submitted by PMBC and scores of community members and aligned nonprofits over the past four years, all of which document how this proposed subdivision will devastate the ecology of Bellingham’s most productive estuary and will impose unacceptable risks to public safety and property.
This failure would represent the city’s acceptance of fundamentally flawed application materials that contain significant deficiencies, including documented errors, omissions and unsubstantiated and/or false claims.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
In short:
Wildlife habitat for herons, salmon, eagles, and more
The integrity of our wetlands, forested cliffs and public shoreline
Public safety and community character
The properties and foundations of nearby homes
As PMBC has pointed out, the failure to obtain independent and objective environmental impact information and analyses typically results in disaster, as the Canyon Estates neighbors in Draper, Utah experienced the hard way when two homes slid down a hillside (bit.ly/Draper01).
PMBC has urged Mayor Lund and the Planning Department to learn from Draper’s tragic mistake of relying on the developer’s biased and flawed technical reports. Although the two projects are not identical, the lesson to be learned is to require an independent analysis and not rely on biased reports submitted by the developer. It appears the Mayor and the Planning Department are ignoring PMBC’s advice and will be placing the entire community at risk.
Without an EIS, we will never learn the true extent of the potential significant adverse impacts the proposed subdivision will impose… until it’s too late. Potential significant adverse impacts include:
Mud Bay is likely to be degraded, impacting fish and wildlife survival.
Increased risk that friends and neighbors will be injured in accidents on an unimproved Viewcrest Road and other streets that cannot handle the additional traffic.
After excavating and denuding the development area of the property site, the likelihood is increased that the few trees left standing – as well as trees on neighboring properties - will topple onto homes as a result of windthrow.
Home foundations are more likely to crumble from the effects of blasting and rock breaking.
The frequency and intensity of rock slides is likely to increase.
Increased runoff and erosion from the development is likely to impact properties downhill of the project site and adjacent estuary.
And so on…
For a detailed summary of these significant and lasting impacts and risks, please view the Petition prepared by PMBC, which over a thousand supporters have signed, at bit.ly/PMBC-Petition.
WHAT’S NEXT?
If the city issues a SEPA Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance, PMBC will file and pay for a formal legal appeal before the city’s Hearing Examiner. This process requires PMBC to prepare testimony, arrange technical experts to give testimony, and engage our land use attorneys to represent the community’s case.
Depending upon how many witnesses are called and how many days the hearing lasts, the cost of this legal appeal could range from $50,000 to $80,000.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The need to file and defend a SEPA appeal triggers this urgent fundraising appeal: PMBC needs to raise at least $50,000 to continue to engage our attorneys. The defense of our community and its future compels each of us to give what we can. Donations of all amounts are welcome!
Whatever amount you are able to donate will be truly appreciated. If you’re able to donate $500, $1,000, or more that amount will be especially impactful as we prepare our appeal.
Please make your tax-deductible donation to Protect Mud Bay Cliffs using the “Donate” button on our website at: MudBayCliffs.org/join-in or scan the QR code pictured above.
PMBC is an all-volunteer grassroots community group. Donations received are only used to fund tightly managed legal and technical fees. PMBC’s minimal operational costs are funded entirely by PMBC Steering Committee members.
YOUR VOICE ALSO MAKES A DIFFERENCE
In addition to your financial support, your voice will matter within the next few months. A formal Public Hearing will be scheduled on other aspects of The Woods at Viewcrest proposed subdivision development.
These aspects include special exemptions, exceptions, and deviations the developer is requesting from the city to circumvent existing laws and regulations.
A large turn-out at the Public Hearing will be essential.
PMBC will keep you posted as the process moves forward and the Public Hearing is scheduled, and we will let you know specifically how to best support our mission to Protect Mud Bay Cliffs.
From all of us at PMBC, thank you!