GUIDE MERIDIAN/CORDATA
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
Chapter 1: Framework and Goals
Part 1: Vision Statement
The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood (GM/C) strives to
enhance the quality of life of its residents through access to public safety,
educational opportunities and recreational facilities. The GM/C neighborhood is committed to a
community value of view protection, maintenance, preservation and enhancement
of open spaces and wildlife corridors.
The proposed changes to the transportation system, the development of
neighborhood parks and trails and other planned improvements will promote
security, neighborhood cohesion and aesthetic appeal while enhancing overall
livability. We strongly believe that any
future development within the neighborhood must be considered on a
comprehensive basis, with infrastructure built concurrent with or in place
before any further development proceeds.
The implementation of infrastructure in a timely fashion is a key to
successful growth.
Part 2: Neighborhood Description (what
is)
The Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhood has experienced and
continues to experience rapid change.
There has been little integration between new commercial and existing
and new residential areas. The
neighborhood has single family residences, residential planned developments,
condominiums, apartments, senior housing, commercial businesses, medical and
institutional uses, an educational campus and other uses. In addition to a major drainage area, some
open spaces, clusters of conifer and deciduous trees and wetlands remain. Major traffic arterial routes (Meridian and
Bakerview) bisect the neighborhood. The
campus of Whatcom Community College is a significant feature. No services such as a public library,
community center, post office annex
or fire station are currently within the area.
Parks and trails have been proposed but have yet to be developed.
Part 3: Broad Goal Statements for Future
Support land use patterns that reduce transportation needs,
promote walkability, and provide easy access to services and transportation
options.
Establish infrastructure concurrent with or before
proceeding with future development taking into consideration the impacts of the
development on existing infrastructure in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The neighborhood should enjoy a network of public parks
interconnected by a system of trails and green ways that offer outdoor
experiences within a variety of landscapes.
Protect what we have now and plan for cohesive design
features to all that will be developed.
Maintain and encourage more areas like Cordata Parkway with its tree
lined streets and planted medians.
Encourage opportunities to build a community activities
center within any proposed urban village.
The neighborhood association should establish and implement
a disaster plan for the neighborhood including evacuation routes and shelters.
Achieve greater neighborhood integration by utilizing
connector streets and public facilities.
Maintain neighborhood character as new development occurs.
Chapter 2: Land Use and Maps
The GM/C have not addressed proposed or adjacent Urban
Growth Areas but expect that any future nearby growth will significantly affect
the Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhood.
The GM/C neighborhood
should have input into the development of adjacent UGA's as the UGA plan
progresses to insure coordination of the traffic corridors, open spaces and
continuity of neighborhood character.
The GM/C neighborhood is composed of twenty-eight (28)
zoning areas. The neighborhood is designated
in the City's comprehensive plan to have the largest growth in the city with
1,295 net new housing units. With the
rapid growth the northern part of the city is experiencing, we believe that
zoning areas 24, 24A, 25, 26 and 26A (East of Meridian St.) should be
considered for inclusion in a different neighborhood. Those areas are near current and proposed
UGA's and are more logically part of another growing area. It may be realistic to create a largely
commercial neighborhood along the Meridian corridor all the way to the north
city limits. The UGA west of the current
GM/C boundary would more than offset any loss in size to say nothing of UGA
proposals to the north
Further analysis and objectives will be developed in a
future review of land use
issues.
Chapter 3. Transportation
Part 1:
Existing Streets and Pedestrian and Bicycle Routes
Arterials
The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood is serviced by three
principle arterials, three secondary arterials, and five collector arterials.
Meridian Street is one of approximately ten major arterials
radiating out from the Bellingham City Center.
Meridian is also a state highway and is the most direct route to
Bellingham from the north, and is one of the city’s most heavily traveled
streets. Commercial uses have been
developed on both sides. It is also a
designated truck route.
Northwest Avenue, though not as developed as Meridian, also
connects communities in north Whatcom County with Bellingham.
West Bakerview Road is a major east-west arterial connecting
an industrial areas east and west of Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhood and it
is designated as a truck route. This arterial has recently been improved to a
four-lane road with sidewalks and has attracted commercial development on both
sides.
Most of the secondary and collector arterials that connect
neighborhoods with the arterials are newer and were built with sidewalks and in
one case bicycle lanes. Exceptions to this are Aldrich Road and parts of
Northwest Ave.
Neighborhood Streets
Most of the residential neighborhoods have been developed
since 1992 and therefore are built with sidewalks and various curb systems that
were approved at the time of development.
There is one exception, however. The Sterling Drive area
was built out much earlier. The streets
in that area do not have sidewalks or curbs.
Whatcom Transit Association (WTA)
The WTA service to the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood
includes a bus station, and according to WTA long range strategic plans, will
soon also be designated as one of four “high frequency corridors” that will
service Northwest Avenue to West Bakerview to Bellis Fair Mall.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
Northwest Avenue and West Bakerview are designated as
“unmarked Bike Lanes.” A number of the
collector arterials have designated bike lines.
The neighborhoods in the Cordata Unit Development have sidewalks that
connect to the Cordata Parkway Secondary Arterial thereby connecting the
neighborhoods to shopping areas. The older
residential neighborhood of Sterling Drive is not connected to the sidewalks in
the rest of the neighborhood.
Part 2: Analysis and Objectives for
Circulation and Transportation
The primary focus of the Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhood
circulation plan is to meet the objectives setout in the Bellingham Comprehensive
Plan 2005 and to provide residents and businesses in the neighborhood
with a safe and adequate transportation system.
Growth both North of the Neighborhood and within the
neighborhood continues to add traffic within the neighborhood. In order to accommodate the added traffic
additional collector and secondary arterials should be developed to provide
better east-west traffic flow and to relieve north-south flow where needed.
Improvements should be made to Northwest Avenue. Sidewalks should be built so that the
Birchwood sidewalk system is connected to the Guide Meridian/Cordata
system.
As new east-west secondary and collector arterials are
developed, if they are terminated at Aldrich instead of continuing on to
Northwest Ave, Aldrich should be upgraded from collector arterial standards to
the minimum standards of a secondary arterial.
As northern parts of the Bellingham UGA area are developed,
a primary east west arterial should be connected to the Slater Road.
As areas on Northwest Avenue west of West Bakerview are
annexed into the city of Bellingham the areas will be developed with
residential and commercial uses. Northwest Avenue should be upgraded to primary
arterial standards as necessary to safely handle the increased traffic. Particular attention should be paid to the
intersection of Northwest Avenue and West Bakerview.
All of Cordata Parkway should be four-lane. Between the two roundabouts at Westerly and
Kellogg, Cordata Parkway narrows down to two lanes plus turnout.
Secondary access and exit to the Sterling Drive area should
be established.
Part 3: Prioritized implementation
strategy
Many of the traffic objectives listed are scheduled in the
Bellingham Compressive Plan 2005, (Chapter 3, Part 4 -"Multi-Modal
Transportation Improvement Projects Identified by Neighborhood and UGA region
for the 20year planning period.") Priority consideration should be given
to improvements on Northwest Avenue, Sterling Drive area, and Cordata Parkway
between Westerly and Kellogg.
Chapter 4. HOUSING
Part 1: Description of Housing
The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood is an expanding area
since its annexation into Bellingham in parcel stages. It has, and is emerging
as, a many faceted area of styles and types of housing, commercial companies
and retail stores. Thoughtful consideration
with future development should be required in all planning stages.
Part 2: Housing Goals and Visions
From 1978, with the
start of annexation into Bellingham to the now present Guide Meridian/Cordata
Neighborhood, building started to grow as a community. The initial neighborhood
plan was adopted in 1980. As we update
the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Plan in the Housing
section, we should accommodate the forecasted population with good design.
The Neighborhood is suggesting energy consideration to all
building developments to “Think Green” as they plan their housing, commercial
and retail ventures in the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood. On the roofs of all new buildings with flat
surfaces green gardens should be included.
Building heights
should be compatible with present structures
and be maintained in all sections of the Neighborhood.
Housing developments should have completed playgrounds for
children, basketball courts plus picnic tables and benches for adults.
Narrow tree lined streets with
sidewalks arranged in a modified grid pattern to make walking, bicycling and
transit use easy and interesting are preferable.
The housing types must be diverse to accommodate varying
income levels, household sizes, and lifestyles.
The neighborhood should have view
corridors from public spaces such as neighborhood parks.
In a short time an Elementary School will be built with its
entrance on Aldrich Road. The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood plus sections
of the UGA will use the Elementary School. The population of children has grown
and will continue to grow as more houses and condominiums are developed.
Bellingham’s regulations encourage and provide incentives
for innovative housing and mixtures of housing types that preserve natural
resources and consolidate open spaces.
Housing developments should
allow for open spaces with playgrounds and green areas for the use of
owners/tenants. Trees should not be all
cut down but some left for bringing in nature to tenants. If a detention pond is
needed on property, thick evergreen landscaping should
surround the pond. Where possible, the
pond should not be located on the street side of the complex.
Density bonuses for well-designed housing that complements
existing neighborhood integrity can supplement new
opportunities for duplex or triplex options, subject to design review standards
and neighborhood input. (HV-3)
Increase the supply of housing for low-income households by
supporting public and private organizations that build affordable housing.
On-going efforts to address housing affordability for all
citizens include streamlining of the regulatory review and building permit
process and reviewing costs of infrastructure improvements and their impact on
housing costs.
Encourage the elimination of discrimination from the housing
market based on race, religion, ethnic origin, age, household composition or
size, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or economic circumstances.
Encourage clear land use and development procedures for the
development of housing while ensuring that the public welfare is protected.
Part 3:
Implementation Strategy
The Guide
Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association believes the inclusion of Affordable
Housing is an important ingredient for a balanced neighborhood.
Energy conservation is encouraged through the siting
and design of buildings to conserve heat and provide opportunities for passive
solar absorption. “Green” construction
materials and methods should be to be used where possible.
Chapter 5: Capital Facilities
This chapter will be further developed at a later date,
however; it should be noted that with the large growth in the area there is a
need for and expressed interest in a library branch, a U. S. Post Office annex,
a community center and playgrounds for children.
Chapter 6: Utilities and
Services
All neighborhoods have many common interests; paramount is
the availability of drinking water. The
expectation is that the city will continue to provide our needs for drinking
water and sewers. Water quality in The
Lake Whatcom Reservoir is deteriorating and threatening the health of the lake
and source of our drinking water. We
urge the City to take all steps necessary to reverse the current deteriorating
condition of lake water quality and continue improvements that will result in a
healthy reservoir for us and for generations to come. To succeed, it is essential that the City and
County act together on matters related to the Lake Whatcom Reservoir
Part 2: Analysis and Objectives
Detention ponds should be integrated as aesthetic amenities
into the design of residential developments.
(BCPV storm water policy FP-41)
Detention ponds preferably should be located near natural areas and not
be visible from the street. All existing
and proposed detention ponds should be safeguarded from
entry and landscaped.
Chapter 7: Parks, Recreation and
Open Space
Part 1. Existing
What is now known as the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood
was annexed from Whatcom County in parcel stages since 1978. It came into
Bellingham with no parks or trails. The
Parks & Recreation Department and the city has done work to amend that
situation as the neighborhood has grown with population bench marks. Work is
being accomplished to have a trails system in the Guide Meridian/Cordata
Neighborhood connecting with trails in and surrounding our area from the
Foothills to the Bay and also connecting with the southern part of the City of
Bellingham.
Part 2: Analysis for Existing and
Objectives
The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood now has its first
unnamed 20acre Park (designated now as the Northwest Park Site). Park amenities
are proposed as follows: a youth soccer field, outdoor picnic tables and
benches, shelter/pavilion for use of indoor picnics, (facility to include
restroom and sink outside of restroom with counter), community meetings and
library annex. The Cordata Day Hiking
Trail starts in Northwest Park site with concrete sidewalks, asphalt,
limestone; Bike trail of asphalt, limestone; Cordata Trail of multipurpose
paved and gravel trail to be developed from Northwest Road east through Cordata
Business Park adjacent residential neighborhoods to King and Queen Mountain
Trail.
As residential communities are developed consideration
should be made for the building of playgrounds.
The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association is
confident that the wetlands surrounded by trees, between the Evergreen
Rehabilitation Hospital and Comcast Headquarters on the East side of Cordata
Parkway owned by Trillium, will someday be deeded to the City of
Bellingham. The Parks and Recreation
Department will then create trails through the area that will not spoil the
wetlands or trees, but will add to Open Space with Trails.
What is still known as the 4.79 acre Durham property at 4855
Aldrich Road on the Westside of Aldrich north of (Horton Road)/Wiltse Lane was
purchased by the City. The acreage has
Bear Creek flowing through it and will be used as part of the Trail plan and
connector plus Open Space.
When the land is developed between
Stuart and Horton on the West side of Cordata Parkway, it will then be required
that a trail be built with a connector to the west side of Cordata Parkway.
The 8-plus acres of wetlands In the buffer area on the
Eastside of Cordata Parkway between Stuart and Horton In appropriate for a
trail and picnic area.
The land locked parcel owned by Whatcom County that is
surrounded by Bedford Homes, El Dorado Complex, Pacific Rim should be added to
the adjacent 20 acre Northwest Park Site.
(BCPU Framework land use policies FLU-5)
With the help from the mayor's advisory boards, The Parks
Department is seeking other parklands in order to comply with the population
mandates in the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan.
Develop and maintain open space and protect wetlands and
environmentally sensitive areas as development occurs. (BCPU Framework land use policies FLU-5)
Part 3:
Implementation Strategy (Land Requirements)
Total parklands
The Neighborhood should equal or exceed the City's adopted
standard of 47.49 acres per of parklands per 1,000 persons in the population
which includes active parks facilities, passive open space, trails, greenways,
aquatic lands, watershed properties managed by the City.
Linear trails
Trail systems should be anchored by public facilities, like
a school or park that may serve
as a destination or trailhead, and extend into the surrounding residential
areas using natural features or established roads, sidewalks or other safe
travel corridor. Ideally, a minimum
trail system should be at least 3-5 miles long and provide the ability to loop
back to the point of origin. The trail
should be sufficiently wide enough to provide for the type of trail user(s)
that it is accommodating, preserve the
features through which the trail is traveling, and buffer adjacent land use
activities.
Recreation centers
The desired service are for a recreation center/pool depends
on the extent of the recreational program services to be offered in the
facility and the building’s potential size and site relationships. Regionally oriented recreation centers may
include meeting facilities of indoor building space. And/or a regionally oriented recreation
center may be jointly sited with an athletic park or playground, or in association with
a library, other public meeting facility.
Regionally oriented recreation centers may be jointly shared with school
districts or a part of other city or county building complexes that serve a
city or larger surrounding
community area.
Map
Map of Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood showing current
location of purchased land for Park and trail plus suggested trails and open
space is attached. Numbers on map
correspond as follows:
13 Cordata East TrailFrom WCC north to North Bear Creek
Trail(16) at Klein Road
14 Meridian Overpass Bike/Pedestrian Overpass over Meridian
St.At Van Wyck/Thomas Roads
15 West Cordata TrailFrom Division Street Trail (27) north
toTo North Bear Creel Trail (16) near Aldrich Road through proposed Aldrich
Elementary School property
16 North Bear Creek Trail From
Bear Creek Trail (21) east to SpringCreek Trail (10)
The proposed North Trails system has been tentatively
approved by the city council. Numbers on
map attached correspond as follows:
26 Belleau Trail From Northwest Road Trail (20) to Cordata
Parkway/Bellis Fair Mall
27 Division Street Trail From Eliza Street west to Northwest
Road Trail (20)
28 Cordata Pond Trail From Kellogg Road north to Horton Road
28a (No Temporary
Name given) Connector trail from
Cordata Pond Trail (28) east to Meridian Overpass and on to King Mountain
East-West Trail (8)
PARKS & RECREATION - TRAILS MAP IN GM/C N TRAILS MAP FROM GM/C N TO AL PARTS OF WHATCOM COUNTY JIM ZANDER IS WORKING ON IT AS OF 9/25/07
Chapter 8: Neighborhood Design
Part 1:
Neighborhood Character (what we want)
New development is strongly encouraged to incorporate
existing mature vegetation and additional trees and native vegetation. Green corridors of open spaces should be
preserved or created to maintain wildlife corridors. (VB-3)
(DG-2)
The impacts of increased urbanization on existing and new
residential areas are mitigated through the use of vegetative buffers, adequate
open space design and performance standards.
(VB-12)
Maintain existing neighborhood character as new development
occurs.
City/neighborhood cooperation with Whatcom Community College
to enhance the utilization of facilities and services in the area should be
increased. (VB-11)
New residential, commercial and industrial developments
respect the scale of existing and nearby neighborhoods so that views and
existing character are preserved. (CDG-14)
Storm water runoff after the development of a site must be
limited to the level that existed under the previous development
conditions. (Cordata Business Park
Master Plan, 1998, p16.)
Tree and shrub buffering and/or a
landscaped berm near the freeway and residential areas of major arterials such
as Bakerview would help to provide sound abatement and provide an attractive
view.
Land use and zoning variances should not be granted that adversely
affect the neighborhood character. (CPV
Framework land use policies FLV-1 and FLV-2, residential development policies
LV-24, LV-26)