Grimes presented recommendations based on a six-month process involving more than 1,000 residents, addressing projected growth mainly through the creation of 23 "urban villages" distributed within City limits. This strategy would best accommodate the 31,600 new residents expected by the year 2024, while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods, the report states.

The report and its strategies now move to the Bellingham Planning Commission, scheduled to consider the report in December. Their recommendations will be presented to the City Council for adoption, and eventual incorporation into the Comprehensive Plan and other policy documents.

"We're truly honored to have been a part of this critical work", said Grimes. "We look forward to seeing Bellingham shape an exciting, livable future for itself."

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Planning Fair Prize Awarded
Attendee Receives WTA Coupons

To add a little fun to September's Growth Forum "Planning Fair," organizers and Whatcom Transportation Authority agreed to offer a small door prize fitting a growth-management theme - a month's worth of free rides on public transportation.

Among the entries received from approximately 100 in attendance, one name was drawn: Teresa Quinn of Bellingham. Ms. Quinn was notified on October 7th, and will receive the coupons via mail from WTA.

Thanks to WTA for their sponsorship of the Growth Forum, their provision of the door prize, and most importantly for their important role in shaping a more accessible, less auto-dependant Bellingham!

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"Penny Weighting" Priorities
Affordable Housing Tops Concerns in Informal Poll

More than 600 Bellingham residents took part in an innovative questionnaire over the summer, voting on community issues with stacks of pennies.

The non-scientific surveys provided participants with ten pennies each, asking them to place them in labeled jars according to priority importance. Each jar was associated with one of ten civic issues, ranging from traffic congestion to water and wastewater facilities.

The top vote-getter? Affordable housing, according to participants. The second-most important consideration was providing neighborhood schools, with community facilities, water/wastewater systems, and pubic transportation rounding out the top five.

"We had great response to the survey all summer," said Forum consultant Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade. "It's a fun way for residents to give us a better idea of what's important to them, especially in context of limited civic resources," he said.

Results from the "Pennyweighting" work are part of Bellingham's Growth Forum series, and will be included in the final report to the City on growth strategies. Full results may be downloaded by clicking here, or for the bar graph alone, click on the image at the upper right of this page.