False pressures and perceptions: An open letter to the Bellingham City Council

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Sat, Aug 18, 2012, 6:39 am  //  Larry Horowitz

Dear Members of Council:

During a recent conversation with a member of City Council, we discussed Bellingham’s obligation to accommodate population growth.

As you know, under the GMA, the City’s primary responsibility is to “identify sufficient land for housing.”  [RCW 36.70A.070(2)(c)]  This is accomplished through the City’s land supply analysis, which compares projected population growth with the City’s capacity for new housing.  If the analysis determines there is sufficient land for housing, then the City has complied with the GMA.  

The most recently published land supply analysis is included in the City’s Comp Plan and was prepared more than six years ago, on April 25, 2006, based on the July 2005 database. 

Citizens often hear Council members describe "the pressure of trying to figure out how to accommodate population.”  The truth is, if the City’s land supply analysis indicates the City has sufficient land for housing, then there should be no pressure on Council at all.

Question:  Has any member of Council seen a land supply analysis that is more current than the April 2006 analysis in the City’s Comp Plan?

If not, then how does Council know whether or not any action needs to be taken to accommodate population and comply with the GMA?  Is this pressure real or simply perceived?

Since the land supply analysis was last published, the City added to its UGA – and then annexed – the King Mountain neighborhood.  Has the addition of King Mountain been considered in the City’s housing capacity?

Since the land supply analysis was last published, the City approved a new Parks Plan that reduced, by 1,132 acres, the number of parkland acres the City expects to purchase.  Now that the City will not purchase these 1,132 acres, isn’t this land available for residential development? 

How many of these acres are developable, and how many new residents will this land accommodate?  Has this additional capacity been considered in the City’s land supply analysis?

Before succumbing to the pressure of trying to figure out how to accommodate population, wouldn’t it be prudent to first find out if the pressure really exists?

On a related topic, during our conversation the Councilmember observed that “whether or not we need more housing capacity, many people want the economic results (real or perceived) of more capacity.”  I’d like to address this observation and perception.

In its Aug 2012 edition, the Economic Development Quarterly published an article titled Relationship Between Growth and Prosperity in the 100 Largest U.S. Metropolitan Areas.  This research paper analyzes the growth rate, per capita income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate of the 100 largest metropolitan areas from 2000 to 2009.  According to the article’s abstract:

“The study finds that faster growth rates are associated with lower incomes, greater income declines, and higher poverty rates. Unemployment rates tend to be higher in faster growing areas… The 25 slowest growing metro areas outperformed the 25 fastest growing in every category and averaged $8,455 more in per capita personal income in 2009.”

In other words, the perceived economic benefits of higher population growth rates simply don’t translate into reality.

A final question: Are the actions taken by Council - when responding to "the pressure of trying to figure out how to accommodate population” and the false perception that population growth generates real economic benefit - actually making Bellingham better? 

Or are these actions simply making Bellingham bigger?

Wendy Harris  //  Sat, Aug 18, 2012, 1:58 pm

Larry, again you raise very good points that warrant a broader public discussion. The studies I am aware of connect more growth with higher costs of living due to greater infrastructure and increased social services, adding an important factor to the points you have raised…  the public ends up subsidizing the cost of growth.  Impact fees reduce the amount of the subsidy but do not eliminate it.  Which goes back to the point of your article.. making sure that we do not grow for the sake of growing, but grow when there is a legitimate need.

I think your questions are particularly timely. I am concerned about the recent Interlocal Agreement between the City/County that included a provision regarding urban infill and off-site County mitigation. This would pave the way for more construction in City critical areas and destruction of existing wetlands and habitat. 

I am sitting back and watching how long it will take someone to provide us with distorted analysis based on U.S. Census figures, disingenuous pleas for affordable housing and the need for more rentals.

Mike Rostron  //  Sat, Aug 18, 2012, 4:26 pm

Advocating for population growth is irresponsible at a time when we cannot even figure out how to keep our water supply from steady deterioration for the people who already live here.

We seem to be putting the interests of those phantom folks who may move here (if properly encouraged by developers and gung-ho business and city growth advocates)  ahead of the interests of the citizens who already live here.

The real discussion we should be having is whether and how much we want to grow our population.  If there is a consensus that we want to remain a small city we can enact policies that discourage rapid growth.  We do not necessarily have to follow the path of Seattle or Tacoma.  Growth here is not inevitable, it is being actively encouraged.

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Marian Beddill provides a general guide for the public, with a look at the history of water rights in Washington state.

1 comments; last on May 24, 2013

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By Guest Writer Nicole Brown. This is a call to action for county citizens as the county tries to ram through the slaughterhouse rezones.

5 comments; last on May 24, 2013

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0 comments

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Tuesday morning and nothing in today's Bellingham Herald. Nor online. We provide the basics to fill in this latest omission by our "daily" newspaper.

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Thu, May 16, 2013, 11:55 am  //  Wendy Harris

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Watch What You Say, Bellingham

Wed, May 15, 2013, 10:23 pm  //  Wendy Harris

The political censor police are listening to you

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Some very important issues with respect to the University Ridge private dormitory project in the Puget Neighborhood will not be considered in the approval process.

6 comments; last on May 17, 2013

Notes From The City Planning Commission Meeting

Fri, May 10, 2013, 9:22 am  //  Wendy Harris

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0 comments

Update on University Ridge Student Dormitory Development

Wed, May 08, 2013, 8:53 am  //  Dick Conoboy

Ambling University Development has proposed building private, off-campus dormitory buildings in the Puget Neighborhood. Their revised proposal was submitted on 29 April.

0 comments

In Memory of Paul deArmond

Mon, May 06, 2013, 1:40 am  //  Guest writer

Paul deArmond is remembered by his sister Claire. He was a Republican-at-Large.

2 comments; last on May 08, 2013

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0 comments

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The County Parks Department has allocated funding for playground equipment, but has not allocated funding for wildlife management planning.

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The only urgency underscored by the Silver Lake geese is the urgency of enacting a comprehensive wildlife strategy.

4 comments; last on Apr 29, 2013

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Wed, Apr 24, 2013, 10:58 am  //  John Servais

The Gristle in today's Cascadia Weekly is devoted to a tribute to Paul de Armond. Tim Johnson gets it right.

0 comments

Freedom Academy Comes to Whatcom County

Mon, Apr 22, 2013, 5:52 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley attends Tea Party training and runs afoul of Rep. Overstreet

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Paul de Armond has passed away

Sun, Apr 21, 2013, 12:59 pm  //  John Servais

Well known political writer has died.

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There will be no due process for the Canada geese, or the public, before the County Parks Department lethally removes the geese from Silver Lake

4 comments; last on Apr 24, 2013

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Wherein we see how the Ds do the work the Rs can't get away with

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Wed, Apr 10, 2013, 10:24 pm  //  Wendy Harris

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0 comments

Notice of Defect

Mon, Apr 08, 2013, 11:56 am  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein we complain about the City and Port stealing from the public

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The GPT Scoping Summary Report Released

Mon, Apr 01, 2013, 3:00 pm  //  Wendy Harris

Government agencies responsible for the GPT project have completed review of the scoping comments.

0 comments

Coming Soon to the Waterfront: More Dioxin and Toxic Waste

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A beneficial reuse provision in the Waterfront District Sub-Area Plan would allow construction materials that are contaminated with bioaccumulative toxins.

0 comments

Waterfront “Planned Action Ordinance” Limits Restoration and Public Input

Tue, Mar 26, 2013, 8:59 pm  //  Wendy Harris

The City Planning Department has included a technical document in the waterfront proposal without disclosing important impacts.

1 comments; last on Mar 30, 2013

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Sun, Mar 24, 2013, 3:01 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the Cattlemen define 'small scale' as an unlimited number of facilities of up to 50 million live pounds per year.

3 comments; last on Mar 26, 2013

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Sat, Mar 23, 2013, 10:53 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the rate base gets a soaking while officials keep big-bubble toking

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Tue, Mar 19, 2013, 9:05 am  //  John Servais

The Bellingham Herald article today is wrong. There is no hearing tomorrow, March 20

0 comments

Valuable Article in the Whatcom Watch

Sun, Mar 17, 2013, 8:42 pm  //  John Servais

Wendy Harris writes about the proposed $8 million concrete bridge along the Bellingham waterfront - using Greenways funds to build.

3 comments; last on Mar 20, 2013

University Ridge Height Variance Hearing Postponed

Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 10:50 am  //  Dick Conoboy

Several complaints to the city seem to have occasioned a postponement of a height variance hearing until a complete development proposal is submitted.

1 comments; last on Mar 12, 2013

Closing Arguments in Defense of the Reconveyance

Mon, Mar 11, 2013, 6:37 am  //  Guest writer

Guest writer Shane Roth writes in favor of the reconveyance of Lake Whatcom land back to the county.

1 comments; last on Mar 11, 2013

Again, we must “vote for the forest”.........or should we?

Fri, Mar 08, 2013, 12:54 am  //  Guest writer

Delaine Clizbe guest writes. Whatcom County has 7,100 acres of park land, with 1,900 acres actually developed. Yet we keep adding land, and not developing our parks.

16 comments; last on Mar 12, 2013

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You are not likely to escape the coming transfer of $billions from your pocket to the health insurance industry. You will get little, if anything, in return.

4 comments; last on Apr 05, 2013

Legislation and Sausage

Tue, Mar 05, 2013, 3:20 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein it's even worse when the legislation is about sausage

0 comments

Support our Troops - Ban Fireworks

Sun, Mar 03, 2013, 4:17 pm  //  Dick Conoboy

Do we need to recreate the sounds and sights of the battlefield when doing so brings pain and suffering to our combat veterans?

0 comments

Marine Sanctuary Standards

Sat, Mar 02, 2013, 8:03 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the ironies of life are explored and the necessities of life are contemplated

2 comments; last on Mar 12, 2013

Troubling Implications of Variance Request

Fri, Mar 01, 2013, 4:19 pm  //  Wendy Harris

A variance request pending before the City could create a loophole for developers seeking to avoid compliance with development standards.

5 comments; last on Mar 07, 2013

PeaceHealth Merger Threatens Women’s Health in Whatcom County

Tue, Feb 26, 2013, 6:39 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley details upcoming merger between PeaceHealth and a much more conservative entity

1 comments; last on Feb 26, 2013

University Ridge Student Housing - What is it?

Mon, Feb 25, 2013, 6:54 pm  //  Dick Conoboy

There is a private sector development proposal to house approximately 600 students in the Puget Neighborhood on 11 acres to the east of Nevada St.

5 comments; last on Feb 27, 2013

Petition to Establish a Bellingham Art Market

Mon, Feb 25, 2013, 5:51 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein artists have to eat, too!

0 comments

Senator Ericksen Displays His Colors

Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 3:01 pm  //  John Servais

Riley Sweeney has posted a great video clip of Sen. Doug Ericksen flouting rules and legal procedures at a Senate hearing in Olympia.

0 comments

City Controls Chuckanut Park - Not New Park District

Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 2:47 pm  //  John Servais

The election created a new park district with taxing power - but with NO control over Chuckanut Ridge - the 100 acre woods.

1 comments; last on Feb 23, 2013

Waterfront EIS Revised Without Public Process

Tue, Feb 19, 2013, 9:40 pm  //  Wendy Harris

An "Updated Preferred Alternative" reduces the number of waterfront jobs and expands the boundary of the waterfront district.

0 comments

Slaughtering the County Tax Base

Fri, Feb 15, 2013, 12:20 am  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the Slaughterhouse Ken and Barbie show present Slaughterville, their new vision for Whatcom County

9 comments; last on Feb 19, 2013

Thoughts on the Park District Vote

Wed, Feb 13, 2013, 3:42 pm  //  John Servais

The Park District vote is close and we will not know final results until late ballots are counted.

6 comments; last on Feb 19, 2013

Public Hearing on New Bellingham Economic Development Policy

Wed, Feb 13, 2013, 2:59 pm  //  Wendy Harris

Participate in the public process by commenting on the new Economic Development chapter to the city comprehensive plan

1 comments; last on Feb 15, 2013

Time to Vote on Park District

Sat, Feb 09, 2013, 12:14 am  //  John Servais

The proponents have avoided the issues on the Park District as the close of voting nears this weekend.

2 comments; last on Feb 12, 2013

Check the Protect Bellingham Parks Website

Wed, Feb 06, 2013, 10:42 pm  //  John Servais

When is a vote No the most positive and common sense action? Check the park district opponents website to learn why.

15 comments; last on Feb 10, 2013

Ironies With the Park District

Tue, Feb 05, 2013, 12:59 pm  //  John Servais

This Park District proposal has several ironic twists and facets - some involving the advocates.

10 comments; last on Feb 07, 2013

The Big Picture on Chuckanut Ridge

Sun, Feb 03, 2013, 3:05 pm  //  Guest writer

Nicholas Zaferatos explains why he is concerned about the park district and looks at the long and short term views if the issue.

11 comments; last on Feb 06, 2013

A note from the publisher

Sat, Feb 02, 2013, 11:18 am  //  John Servais

The Chuckanut Park District ballot issue has another 10 days to run. A few notes about NWCitizen and this issue.

11 comments; last on Feb 05, 2013

Chuckanut Mountains and the Park District

Fri, Feb 01, 2013, 3:16 pm  //  Guest writer

Dr. Gibb explains some history to the issue in a brief article.

8 comments; last on Feb 03, 2013

Former Park Directors Against Park District Proposal

Thu, Jan 31, 2013, 12:36 pm  //  Guest writer

Paul Leuthold and Byron Elmendorf explain why to vote NO on the Chuckanut Park District ballot measure.

19 comments; last on Feb 12, 2013

 

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