Whatcom County is nearing the finish line on a multi-year update to its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code, and county officials are inviting the public to weigh in before the process concludes. A public hearing has been scheduled for July 14 at 6:00 PM at the Whatcom County Courthouse.
The Comprehensive Plan is the foundational document that guides land use, development, housing, transportation, and environmental protection decisions across unincorporated Whatcom County. Updates to the plan are required by Washington State's Growth Management Act on a periodic basis, and this current cycle represents a significant revision that touches zoning maps, the zoning code itself, and the Foothills Subarea Plan -- a planning document that governs development in the eastern foothills of the county.
The July 14 hearing will be held at the Whatcom County Courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. The County Council will receive public testimony on the proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code, zoning maps, and the Foothills Subarea Plan. Residents who want to review the specific materials before the hearing can find them linked through the county's official update page.
For residents who cannot attend in person, written comments are accepted at council@co.whatcom.wa.us. The county has encouraged anyone with input on the changes to submit comments regardless of whether they plan to attend the hearing.
The Comprehensive Plan update process has involved years of community engagement, technical analysis, and coordination between Whatcom County Planning and Development Services and the County Council. Topics addressed in the update include housing density, environmental buffers, rural land use designations, and transportation planning.
The Foothills Subarea Plan is of particular interest to residents in the eastern portion of the county, including communities near the Mount Baker foothills. That subarea plan governs how land in that region can be developed and what protections apply to natural resource lands, floodplains, and rural residential areas.
Public hearings like this one are the formal mechanism through which residents can shape land use decisions that will govern development in Whatcom County for years to come. Growth pressures from population increases, housing demand, and changing transportation patterns make comprehensive plan updates consequential for every part of the county.
The July 14 hearing begins at 6:00 PM at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham. Residents are encouraged to review the draft materials in advance and come prepared to speak to the specific provisions that affect their community. More information is available through the Whatcom County Planning and Development Services office.
