Bellingham Planners Worry About Losing Industrial Land: City Council Delays Decisions on Zoning Requests
Posted on: Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 09:00 CST
By Aubrey Cohen, The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash.
Mar. 28--Bellingham should avoid allowing other uses on industrial land until after a more comprehensive look at the city's land supply, city planners told the City Council Monday.
Several of the rezones that property owners want city officials to consider this year would allow homes, stores and offices on industrial land. Council members did not comment on the issue Monday and will wait a week before deciding which rezone requests to consider this year.
City planners Pat Carman and Greg Aucutt called for a larger discussion about industrial land supply before considering most requests to rezone properties designated for that use.
"There would have to be some factors that outweigh leaving the land for industry," Aucutt said.
The largest of the industrial requests would allow a mix of industrial, commercial and residential uses on about 25 acres on the north side of the Kline Road right of way, west of Meridian Street.
The land is across the street from a large new residential development, said Doug Ellis, general manager of Homestead Northwest Development Co. Homestead owner Jim Wynstra owns about 10 of the acres.
"There's certainly going to be a need for some retail services out there with all the homes that are going in," Ellis said. "I understand the need for industrial space too, but you would think it should be more located together than that close to residential."
One request that already has drawn some community opposition - and planners' recommendation against consideration - is to allow homes and offices on industrial land along the south side of Harris Avenue, west of Eighth Street, in Fairhaven.
Planners also recommended against considering changes to allow apartments and condominiums on about 10 industrial acres northwest of Bakerview Road and Northwest Avenue and commercial uses on about 18 acres at the southeast corner of Meridian Street and Van Wyck Road.
The one industrial rezone planners endorsed considering would allow a mix of industrial, commercial and residential uses on about seven acres along Squalicum Parkway, just south of the new Squalicum Creek Park.
"We would like to see maybe the opportunity for some infill and other uses related to the park," Carman said.
Reach Aubrey Cohen at aubrey.cohen@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2289.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash.
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Source: The Bellingham Herald, Wash.
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