"Fairhaven Highlands" is a development proposed on property located in the South Neighborhood, within Bellingham city limits between Chuckanut Drive, the Interurban Trail, Old Fairhaven Parkway and Old Samish Highway. The area is also known as Chuckanut Ridge, and includes an area referred by some as the “One-Hundred Acre Wood”.
This proposal has provoked significant community debate. Many area residents are opposed to developing Chuckanut Ridge, which is one of the last large, wooded properties remaining within City limits. They say they prefer to see it preserved for open space or recreational use, they are concerned about protecting sensitive environmental features, and they are concerned about traffic and other neighborhood impacts.
Others say that despite the loss of wooded open space, developing Chuckanut Ridge is appropriate because placing growth within the City limits prevents sprawl and helps protect wooded areas and farmlands outside Bellingham.
City officials will continue to review this proposal against current land use, environmental and other regulations, using procedures outlined in Bellingham Municipal Code, and as obligated by law will approve or deny it based on applicable regulations.
Greenbriar Northwest Associates applied to develop Fairhaven Highlands in April 2005, proposing 739 units of single- and multi-family homes on approximately 85 acres of land. At the developer’s request, the City took no further action to review the application at that time.
In early 2007, Greenbriar requested the City initiate the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Fairhaven Highlands development as submitted in the original application.
Conducting an environmental impact statement is the first step in understanding the potential environmental impacts of the proposed development, and will include opportunities for the public to participate.
Date Posted: Oct 26, 2007
