Columbia Neighborhood Holds Infill Informational Meetings
Summary
Report
Multi-Family
Housing Photos from Planning Academy II Session
Timing and Purpose of
Infill Meetings
On
August 26 and September 9, 2008, the CNA Board sponsored informational meetings
on the city’s draft Infill Housing Toolkit, a presentation of 13 housing types
that might be used to ‘densify’ our
neighborhoods. Participants
(approximately 40 Columbia neighbors altogether) examined and discussed large
posters of color photographs and data about the different housing types for
both single-family and multi-family dwellings.
Board members Edie Norton and Frances Badgett,
who represented Columbia at the Planning Academy II last Spring,
where the Toolkit was initially presented, facilitated the meetings. At neither meeting were decisions made. Our
purpose was to learn and consider housing options for “filling in” available
vacant land within city limits—the city’s growth strategy for preventing sprawl
out into the county’s precious agricultural lands.
City’s Decision on
Toolkit Implementation
As
it turns out, our neighborhood was ahead of the curve in disseminating this
information, for on September 18, the city’s Planning Director, Tim Stewart,
communicated that implementation of these new housing types will be delayed
into 2009. Here is his announcement,
with a few explications inserted in brackets:
“The Toolkit Project is still underway, but
major work is needed crafting the final ordinance and integrating the new
housing forms with engineering standards for streets and utilities. It is
likely that final adoption of the Toolkit will not occur until 2009. Because the
community has not yet had a chance to review the actual ordinance, I proposed a
60 day advance release of the Final Draft Staff Recommendation [to the public]
before Planning Commission Hearing. The Final Draft Ordinance will be released
only after we have agreement on content and form from Planning, Public Works,
Fire and Law.
“I also clarified [at the 9/18/08 Planning
Commission meeting] the "applicability" issue (or where will these
new housing types will be permitted). I will recommend to the community,
Planning Commission and Council that:
“The Toolkit housing types are applicable:
1) in "Planned
Commercial" and mixed use districts,
2) in Multifamily
Residential Districts and
3) as a
"vocabulary" for contract [permitted] rezones or other legislative
actions [i.e., those going through public hearings, Planning Commission, and
City Council review] subject to a Type VI process [Type VI being the process
for “spot” rezones [which are rezones for specific projects within an already
zoned area].
“I will also recommend that the Toolkit NOT
apply:
1) In any single family district, and that
2) The underlying density of the zone not change with the toolkit.
“(Please note that changes to single family or
density might occur in the future but it would not be part of this legislative
package for the toolkit. Each change would require a separate Type VI. This
additional process in single family areas is where I hope we can work with
neighbors
to find appropriate
places for additional density and infill).
“The Sunnyland
Project has received a great deal of attention from the City, the neighbors and
the property owners. Yesterday we received a letter from the owners, Sunset
Commons, LLC requesting the proposal be tabled until 2009 "...to have more
time to work with the neighborhood and City staff on a site plan that is
mutually beneficial, and that sets a high standard of how infill can be
accomplished in Bellingham. The current time frame is not sufficient to attend
to the details that this site and the neighborhood deserve." I agree
completely with this request. The project will be held over into the 2009
Annual Review [i.e., the neighborhood plan updates, due by December 1 of each
year].” [End of Stewart announcement.]
Back to the Report on
Columbia’s Infill Meetings
If
you’d like to know what happened at the Columbia meetings—prior to the city’s
decision—read on:
At
the first Columbia infill meeting, participants developed a list of the
characteristics they want to preserve in the Columbia neighborhood, as well as
a list of their concerns and fears about the possible negative impacts of
infill (see links below). At this
meeting we focused on multi-family housing types—duplex/triplex, shared
courtyard, townhouse/rowhouse, 3 – 4 story apartment
or condo buildings, and 5- 6 story mixed use buildings (the latter two types
appropriate only for multi-family and mixed use zones). Senior Planner Chris Koch, who is in charge
of finalizing the Toolkit draft, was present throughout the meeting to help
present information about housing types and the processes for adding them to
the neighborhood and to answer questions.
At
the second meeting, participants compared and contrasted seven housing types
suitable for infill in single-family zones—small and smaller lot house, cottage,
courtyard, townhouse, ADU, and carriage house (see quick comparison links
below). Because Chris Koch was not able
to be at this session, Edie and Frances presented answers to 15 questions they
had asked Chris prior to this meeting.
These questions generated discussion and further questions—a natural and
desirable outcome, given the newness and complexity of this information.
Links to Details about
Meeting Outcomes
You
can get details about the Columbia meeting outcomes by linking to the following
topics:
·
Qualities of our
neighborhood we want to preserve
·
Worries, concerns about the effects
of infill
·
Quick Comparison of multi-family
housing types
·
Quick Comparison of
single-family housing types
What Neighbors at
August 26th Meeting Appreciate about the Columbia Neighborhood and
Want to Preserve
