Local Organization Hopes to Purchase Hundred Acre Wood

We’re at a crossroads in our mission to preserve the Hundred Acre Wood and, ultimately, the quality of our lives. One Hundred Acre Wood is also known as Fairhaven Highlands and is a beautiful forested parcel of land, slated for development, located next to Fairhaven Park.

Powerful landowners, both past and present, have imposed their rights over the rights of the majority. Between 1978 and 1980, against neighbors’ objections, former landowners of this parcel persuaded the city of Bellingham to substantially increase the value of their property by changing the residential zoning from single family to multifamily and by increasing the density from 20,000 square feet per unit to as low as 3,000. This upzoning lacks the appearance of due process, and the city has not been able to provide adequate documentation to the contrary. Currently, the remaining 82 acres of the original Hundred Acre Wood is zoned for 739 residential units, an average of nine units per acre and under 5,000 square feet per unit.

Today’s powerful landowners and developers continue to exert considerable influence. Against substantial opposition from residents throughout the city, Bellingham’s planning department vested the application for the Fairhaven Highlands development in just a few days, even though the application is clearly not complete. This application is now being approved under an outdated development code, which is not compliant with the Growth Management Act (GMA). Furthermore, this application is riddled with design flaws that adversely affect the environment, traffic and safety of thousands of neighboring residents.

In 1997, many citizens voted for the Beyond Greenways program, which intended to preserve the Hundred Acre Wood, but the city and former owners failed to reach an agreement for the city purchase this property. The city now appears to be acting as a proponent for this massive development rather than as a representative for the community at large. Our city has failed to implement critical regulations that protect its citizens. These failures to act are violations of the GMA. Our City Council is our last line of defense against such acts of omission. City Council members are well aware of these violations but, as a group, have refused to take corrective action.

Furthermore, the city has not met its deadline to update the 1995 Comprehensive Plan and continues to approve an increasing number of devastating development applications based on an obsolete plan and development code. Although a determination has not been issued as of July 17, city regulators have informed us that they do not expect to require an environmental impact statement (EIS) in order to approve the Fairhaven Highlands application. Given that the Hundred Acre Wood serves as the keystone for the entire natural habitat that surrounds it, this approach by our regulators is impossible to fathom.

These circumstances all add up to the perfect storm. Powerful developers supported by an accommodating local government using an obsolete and noncompliant development code to regulate an application for the largest residential development in the history of the city.

Responsible Development is an organization that was formed to protect the Hundred Acre Wood and large tracts of land throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County. The members of Responsible Development have challenged the city of Bellingham to implement the critical protections that have been omitted from the development code. We have challenged the city’s regulators to carefully review the Fairhaven Highlands application for completeness and to require an EIS. We are currently working with the developers to negotiate an acquisition of this property and preserve this unique land for future generations. We have exchanged offers and counter-offers with the developers through their attorney, Bob Tull. On Thursday, June 30, Responsible Development hand delivered to Mr. Tull’s office a counter-offer to the developers. As of July 17, we have not received a response although we hope to hear from them shortly.

As you can see, Responsible Development has accomplished much, but there is more to do.

The battle being waged by Responsible Development is a critical test for the entire citizenry. If the thousands of residents who are fighting to protect our rights and preserve our quality of life lose this battle, we all lose to the powerful developers who believe their rights are paramount to the rights of the majority and treasure profits above community and quality of life. In the years to come, there will be many developments comparable to Fairhaven Highlands throughout the city and the county. Virtually everyone we meet is against these mega developments; however, some claim that we must accept our fate. For those who are resigned to this fate, we say: Stop acting like sheep. If you believe you are victims, you will be. Join the fight for what is right! And join now before the opportunity to defend our cherished way of life is lost forever.

For those who are fighting to preserve our quality of life, we say: Thank you! We look forward to working with you to jointly determine our fate. This is our community, and we will fight to protect and preserve that which we love about it. If this message resonates with you, please share this message with your friends and neighbors and inspire them to control their own destiny.

If you are interested in assisting Responsible Development in this cause, we have developed a number of action plans ready for implementation. The primary one would involve a commitment of just a few minutes every other week or so, and can easily be handled from the comfort of your own home. For more information, please send an e-mail with the subject phrase “Help RD” to RDnow@comcast.net. §