City of Bellingham Municipal Code

21.10.170 - PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE

A. The purpose of a pre-application conference with staff is to assist applicants in preparing development applications for submittal to the City by identifying applicable regulations and procedures. It is not intended to provide an exhaustive review of proposed plans or a staff recommendation on future permit decisions. The Director shall establish the submittal requirements and process for pre-application conferences. A fee may be required if established by the City Council.

B. Applicability - Land Use Applications. A pre-application conference is required for the following land use applications unless a written waiver is granted by the Planning Director:

1. Preliminary plat (10 or more lots);

2. General binding site plans;

3. Planned development and institutional site plans;

4. Shoreline substantial development permits, conditional uses and variances;

5. Design review (excluding Type I);

6. Co-housing;

7. Conditional use (excluding bed and breakfast and single family residential uses that do not exceed the thresholds in subsection C below);

8. Rezones and site specific comprehensive plan amendments.

9. Institutional master plans (including essential public facilities reviewed under IMP process);

10. Critical area permit (excluding Type I);

11. Demonstration housing; or

12. Preliminary short plat requiring a critical area permit.

C. Applicability - Building and Grading Applications.

1. A pre-application conference is required for building or grading applications for projects that include any of the following situations unless a written waiver is granted by the Planning Director:

a. Required land use permits have not been completed;

b. Required SEPA environmental review has not been completed;

c. Over 5,000 sq. ft. of new or replaced impervious surface;

d. Disturbance of more than 1 acre of land;

e. Public street or public utility construction; or

f. Construction of more than 1 primary building on a lot or any building that is 4 stories or more.

2. A pre-application conference may be required for any project that the Planning Director determines to be similar in nature to those listed in BMC 21.10.170.C.1.