The Elephant in the Room
The Elephant in the Room
After many years of discussion over growth management issues, it seems little progress has been made towards implementing the plan. Few seem to disagree that most of the growth needs to be higher den
After many years of discussion over growth management issues, it seems little progress has been made towards implementing the plan. Few seem to disagree that most of the growth needs to be higher density housing in Bellingham, in order to avoid urban sprawl. Yet, anytime someone proposes high-density housing or infill, there seems to be an outcry against it. Some would claim it is a NIMBY attitude, but I am not sure it is that simple. Our hearts are in it, but then maybe our heads prevail. There seems to be a missing link in the strategy in terms of how to deal with cars. The table provides some basic math.
If you assume 30,000 citizens will be moving into Bellingham, then you can start manipulating the number of cars per person and the number of parking spaces required to park them. No matter how you slice it, the amount of land to accommodate growth, just to park new cars in the city, is enormous (in fact, it is roughly the same size of the GP site). Yes, it is possible to build parking garages and put parking spaces under buildings, the problem is cost effectiveness requires many floors in the building. Putting significant underground parking for a 5-story building does not appear economical. Currently the City of Bellingham strategy for increased traffic and parking is to ignore the issue and hope it goes away. They downgraded the definition of acceptable traffic, and no clear parking solution has emerged. I wonder if citizens are starting to do the mental math and realize there is a potential problem they want solved first, before agreeing to higher density. Improved mass transit would help, but again no clear vision of mass transit is on the horizon that would dramatically affect the answer. Walking and biking are beneficial, but constrained by the relationship between where people live, work, and shop, and presently housing and jobs are scattered.
It seems the best strategy moving forward is to acknowledge there is an elephant in the room, admit there is a problem, and then work to figure out real solutions to deal with it. Continuing on a path to high density, while pretending that it will magically happen if we just keep talking about it, does not seem to be marketable solution to citizens. Bellingham and Whatcom County are in the midst of a tremendous transition, which on one hand requires visionary leaders, and on the other hand requires patient citizens willing to work through the issues.
If you assume 30,000 citizens will be moving into Bellingham, then you can start manipulating the number of cars per person and the number of parking spaces required to park them. No matter how you slice it, the amount of land to accommodate growth, just to park new cars in the city, is enormous (in fact, it is roughly the same size of the GP site). Yes, it is possible to build parking garages and put parking spaces under buildings, the problem is cost effectiveness requires many floors in the building. Putting significant underground parking for a 5-story building does not appear economical. Currently the City of Bellingham strategy for increased traffic and parking is to ignore the issue and hope it goes away. They downgraded the definition of acceptable traffic, and no clear parking solution has emerged. I wonder if citizens are starting to do the mental math and realize there is a potential problem they want solved first, before agreeing to higher density. Improved mass transit would help, but again no clear vision of mass transit is on the horizon that would dramatically affect the answer. Walking and biking are beneficial, but constrained by the relationship between where people live, work, and shop, and presently housing and jobs are scattered.
It seems the best strategy moving forward is to acknowledge there is an elephant in the room, admit there is a problem, and then work to figure out real solutions to deal with it. Continuing on a path to high density, while pretending that it will magically happen if we just keep talking about it, does not seem to be marketable solution to citizens. Bellingham and Whatcom County are in the midst of a tremendous transition, which on one hand requires visionary leaders, and on the other hand requires patient citizens willing to work through the issues.
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