Historic Bellingham Message

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:05:00 GMT

The consultant team hired by the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham to study the feasibility of adaptively reusing the Granary and the historic GP mill buildings will be presenting their preliminary findings to the Bellingham Historic Preservation Commission on December 1, 2009 at 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 210 Lottie Street. See below for more information: AGENDA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM DECEMBER 1, 2009 AT 6:00 PM (This meeting will be recorded) CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 210 Lottie Street CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL: Historic Preservation Commission Members: George Volker (Chair), Rod Burton (Vice-Chair), Dave Christensen, Marilyn Mastor, Sean Walbeck, Curt Carpenter, Sarah Campbell, Jim Talbot, and Jean Melious. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING: 1. Presentation by the adaptive reuse study team regarding the waterfront buildings. ----- DISABILITIES/HEARING ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE A hearing assistance system is now available and a receiver may be checked out through the Recording Secretary prior to the meeting. The public is invited to attend. The City of Bellingham complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need special accommodations, please contact Fiona Starr at 778-8357 (voice) or 778-8382 (TTY) at least 3 business days prior to the meeting.

Historic Bellingham Message

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:22:00 GMT

ACTION ALERT PUBLIC PROCESS AND THE BELLINGHAM WATERFRONT On Monday, April 20, in a poorly publicized mid-day meeting, the Bellingham City Council and the Port of Bellingham Commission voted to accept a framework plan for the Bellingham waterfront that details the basis for a new street grid configuration and assumptions for the waterfront master plan. It also assumes the destruction of numerous historic buildings on the site. This was done with very short notice, in a rare mid-day meeting, WITH NO PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWED.  None of the materials were available to the public ahead of time. The councils decided that they would ask the public later what we think of this plan. This decision can only be reversed by a vote of both councils, so it is virtually set in stone. Is this how waterfront planning will now proceed? Vote now, ask the public later? What does this mean for other controversial decisions that the city council must make, such as Lake Whatcom planning or new shoreline rules? Will the council start voting first and asking questions later? Regardless of whether you like the new plan, how do you feel about the process? Does this action encourage your involvement and make you feel that your voice is important or perhaps that your involvement is not really desired?  If you think something is wrong with this approach, please come to the following meetings and send a message LOUD and CLEAR that public decision making processes require public input BEFORE council votes. Bellingham City Council: Monday April 27, 7 pm open session Waterfront Open House, Wednesday April 29,  6:30 Bellingham, Cruise Terminal Port Commission Meeting, Tuesday May 5, 3:00 pm, Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue Questions? Contact Robyn du Pré, RE Sources, 733-8307, <a href="mailto:robynd@re-sources.org">robynd@re-sources.org</a> -- web page: www.historicbellingham.org unsubscribe: http://www.historicbellingham.org/news/mail.cgi/u/hisbell/