Some days on NWCitizen are more active. Today has been one. And here is another item that could easily go unnoticed as we all contemplate the futility of even caring any more.

The Bellingham City Council last evening voted to amend the city planning laws. To wit, the Council caved to the Planning Department and wrote new rules restricting the power of neighborhood associations and residents to work to make changes in their neighborhood plans. Council and staff spoke of how these new laws will help bring clarity to the planning process. But they don't. All they do is hamper residents' rights.

The story behind all this: David Edelstein and partner bought the old WA Dept of Transportation site on Sunset Drive - the huge vacant area next to the Greek Orthodox Church. The Sunnyland Neighborhood Association has worked since 2007 to get that zoned for residential use that would fit into the neighborhood. Edelstein wants to build almost twice the density of houses, without assurances that he will not hurt the neighborhood ambience. Yes, that is the Edelstein of Chuckanut Ridge fame.

As the Association has tried all winter and spring to get their proposed plan docketed, the Planning Department and Edelstein have worked to prevent its being docketed. When it appeared the Council would docket, Planning suddenly presented new planning codes to the Council that will tip the scales to Edelstein's favor and prevent the neighbor's plan from being docketed.

The key item? The signature of THE property owner is now required for any proposal. As Edelstein just bought the old DOT site, he needs to sign on for any proposed plan for that property. To smoke screen this, all sorts of other guidelines were proposed to supposedly make the planning process more rational. But the signature requirement is what drove this process.

The city council has voted 7-0 this evening to approve these city code changes. These changes further marginalize the efforts of residents and associations to guide their own planning process. Courtesy of the city - Council and Dan Pike's staff - David Edelstein now has the advantage in his efforts to overbuild on the land without safeguards to protect the ambience of the Sunnyland Neighborhood.

This chipping away at the powers of city residents to participate in their own neighborhood planning has been ongoing since 2001. That was when the Happy Valley neighbors beat up the Planning Department and got the plan they wanted. All neighborhood planning stopped for seven years while the mayor brought in George Vega to totally revise how planning is done, so as to reduce the power of residents. In 2007 the Planning Department started planning again with the new rules. Tonight they took a further step to reduce the power of residents. And our City Council duly fell in line to approve.

Our city likes to do these dirty things during the summer when we are trying to enjoy ourselves outside. And sometimes City Council members find it easier to just approve what staff wants than to stand up for the rights of the people they are supposed to represent. Yes, the Herald has been silent on this issue.

Sunnyland residents now have a tougher time ahead to protect their neighborhood from a predatory developer. The planning department now has new tools to tell neighborhood associations "no" when they try to take action. Dan Pike presided over it all. So much for his campaign promises to help empower neighborhoods in the planning process. Two Council members are running unopposed for reelection. And the Herald no longer reports much local news.