Bellingham Herald   Aug, 1, 2007
WHATCOM VIEW

RICK DUBROW / FOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
 
The Caitac USA Corp. bought and published a full page ad in the July 23 edition of The Bellingham Herald in support of their Larrabee Springs development near the Guide Meridian and Smith Roads. The ad mentions Futurewise as an organization that promotes Smart Growth and then lists a few principles that Caitac and Futurewise both embrace.

The folks at Caitac must have run out of room in their ad, because they failed to mention that the huge development referenced in this ad just so happens to fall outside of the existing urban growth area.

If there is one overriding principle of Smart Growth at the heart of Washington’s Growth Management Act and the Futurewise mission, it is to place new housing within existing, developed areas that already support urban densities, thereby helping to prevent sprawl.

This is especially important here in Whatcom County. We face a host of growth-related problems.
Traffic congestion and water pollution, especially in Lake Whatcom, are worsening.
Property taxes are increasing to pay for the public infrastructure needed to accommodate growth, since growth doesn’t pay for itself though impact fees and the like.
The County’s forests, open spaces, and family farms are threatened by inappropriate development.

It is critically important that we focus development within our urban areas before expanding outward. Such a placement of newcomers, among other benefits, would lower costs to taxpayers by efficiently using existing infrastructure and would protect open space, critical areas and farmland in the rural areas.

A group of local citizens gathered this winter to discuss the adverse effects of growth, poorly-planned development and how to better manage the process in Whatcom County. Many of us have been in the trenches on these issues for years, but perhaps, like you, have been frustrated about our ability to assertively pursue a positive agenda regarding growth issues.

After exploring a variety of options, we decided to form Futurewise Whatcom, the Whatcom County chapter of the statewide public interest group Futurewise, referred to in the Caitac ad.

Futurewise is active and successful in addressing growth issues all over the state, including Whatcom County. For 17 years, Futurewise has been defending the interests of people protecting communities and natural resources from irresponsible development.

As the Caitac ad suggests, the Whatcom County Council is currently considering expanding Bellingham’s urban growth boundary. This is an important opportunity for the county to focus growth where it will benefit most people instead of contributing to sprawl. We can decide to promote attractive, vibrant growth within our city or we can continue to expand out into the country.

The council will hold a public hearing on at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, in the council chambers of Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave. to accept comments on the Bellingham urgan growth area; please attend and speak out on behalf of Smart Growth.

Expanding Bellingham’s urban growth area as the Caitac ad suggests will allow sprawl to spring ahead to yet another region of our rural lands. Futurewise Whatcom is working to ensure the County Council protects our quality of life in Whatcom County by not expanding Bellingham’s UGA.

In the coming months, Whatcom County will face many more important choices about where and how we grow. There will be additional reviews of urban growth areas in other Whatcom County cities. The County will review its concurrency plan and impact fees, addressing the distribution of the costs of new development.

We look forward to working with the county and concerned citizens to make sure each choice leads towards a better growth pattern for our county. Rather than stand by and just hope that Whatcom County and its cities plan wisely for a new influx of citizens,

Futurewise Whatcom will be actively involved in shaping a smart future for the county. We need your help, so please contact us and get involved in our work. After all, it’s our community, our choices, and our future.

Rick Dubrow is a steering committee member of Futurewise Whatcom, the Whatcom County Chapter of Futurewise, a statewide public interest group working to promote healthy communities and cities while protecting farmland, forests and shorelines today and for future generations. For more information go to www.futurewise.org/whatcom.