Yes No
39 136 Land Use and Zoning Action (LUZA) – 1: Consider a building moratorium to limit further
development in the Lake Whatcom Watershed until water quality improvements in Lake Whatcom are
verified.
56 126 LUZA – 2: Land use designations should be adjusted in areas where appropriate, including: Changing
the designation of Areas 3, 6, 11 and 14 to Residential Single, Low Density; Changing the designation of
Area 13 to limit further development; and Changing the designation on Section 18 to reflect current use
and decrease density.
64 117 LUZA – 3: Due to its watershed location, wildlife, wetlands, trails and proximity to Big Rock Park and
the Silver Beach School, further development in Area 1 should be prohibited.
86 108 LUZA – 4: The City should continue and expand their program to purchase sensitive land areas in the
Lake Whatcom Watershed. In particular it should purchase the wetlands adjacent to Bloedel Donovan
Park and those located within Area 13.
76 104 LUZA – 5: The zoning code should be updated to include landscape treatment adjacent to streams. All
year-round streams should have a buffer zone consistent with the Shoreline Master Plan.
97 86 LUZA – 6: The neighborhoods of the city shall work together to address the height restriction code and
protect view corridors.
74 109 LUZA – 7: Existing property owners on the lakeshore should be encouraged to participate in the
stormwater retrofit program.
75 108 LUZA – 8: All requests for building permits should include a landscaping plan that includes retaining as
much native soils and vegetation as possible. New plantings should be designed to protect existing views
where possible.
59 124 LUZA – 9: Update the zoning code to include regulations regarding size of docks and other marine
facilities. The size and number of these facilities should be reduced so as not to degrade the quality of
Lake Whatcom.
91 91 LUZA – 10: Encourage the continued use and expansion of the commercial facilities in Area 7 to
provide a neighborhood retail center and community gathering area that is pedestrian friendly and helps
eliminate car travel. The neighborhood would like to see expanded services such as a café, garden
area, deli, etc.
65 113 LUZA – 11: Create a Design Review process that will insure that the above standards are followed.
Yes No
89 89 Transportation Action (TA) -1: The City will adopt ‘Green Street’ criteria and techniques when
redoing and maintaining the streets in the Silver Beach Neighborhood. This approach assures that the
scale of our streets remain residential and that runoff will be treated using basic natural methods within
the street’ right-of-way negating the need for large capital intensive, experimental filtering vaults. Green
streets criteria and techniques also address safety and multimodal issues of our streets. The
Neighborhood and the city need to work together to address the streets in areas 3,4,5, 6, 11 and 15 that
are prime candidates for green street projects. Silver Beach Avenue from Northshore to Sylvan would
fall into this group and would be an excellent model project.
117 69 TA - 2: Install crosswalks on Barkley Blvd., Britton and Northshore, and Electric Ave. to improve
pedestrian safety. People, especially the young and the elderly, need to cross these busy streets to get to
school, to catch a bus or for many other reasons.
111 71 TA - 3: Resurface and improve Northshore Drive to better accommodate all modes of traffic and
improve stormwater runoff treatment. The proposed design includes a bike lane in each direction and a
sidewalk on the north/west side of the street. This project is currently scheduled for 2008 and should not
be delayed for any reason.
117 68 TA - 4: Resurface and improve the design of Electric Avenue. A sidewalk should be included on at
least one side to provide separate and safer lanes of travel for pedestrians and bicyclists.
94 88 TA - 5: In concert with WTA develop a local loop shuttle bus service that facilitates easy access to
Barkley Village and the Sunset Mall for residents of Silver Beach Neighborhood. Additionally, improve
access for those residents who live south of Alabama by relocating at least one route so it travels on
Electric.
96 84 TA - 6: The project planned to connect Big Rock Garden, the Silver Beach Elementary School and
the Klipsun trail is an important link that warrants immediate attention. This would provide a pathway
system around the watershed management area connecting the residential areas on either side and allow
the center of the area to be returned to its natural state. This also provides safe routes to Silver Beach
Elementary School.
101 80 TA - 7: Northshore from Britton southeast to the city’s border will be upgraded up to the standards of
the other secondary arterials in Silver Beach neighborhood. This is both a watershed quality and safety
issue.
110 75 TA - 8: Academy on both sides of the lake will be upgraded for safety reasons. The road is heavily
traveled and in both cases the intersections of Northshore and Academy have poor sight lines.
74 107 TA - 9: Any city plans, maps or other documents concerning residential streets in the Silver Beach
Neighborhood that are currently not through streets but are shown or referred to as becoming through
streets must be voided. Any further consideration of them as through streets needs to start at square one
with the public process. A traffic circle with a rain garden should be considered to slow traffic on Haggin
and break up the long straightaway.
84 98 TA - 10: Existing alleys need to be evaluated and improved when possible. With little work some may
provide opportunities as alternative, and safer, bicycle or pedestrian pathways through the neighborhood.
They should also be evaluated with regard to their contribution to stormwater runoff and improved if
necessary.
Yes No
105 79 Capital Facilities Action (CFA) – 1: The City, Bellingham School District and Silver Beach
Neighborhood should develop a communication plan and process that allows early neighborhood
involvement when updating or changing public facilities in the neighborhood.
88 92 CFA – 2: The city and Silver Beach Neighborhood will jointly explore the feasibility, vision and funding
of Bloedel Donovan park as a centerpiece of Lake Whatcom and a demonstration project for watershed
management best practices.
96 82 CFA – 3: The grounds of the Elementary School have large areas of impervious surfaces that in any
future remodels should be designed to treat runoff on-site.
Yes No
98 87 Utilities and Services Action (USA) -1: The city will create a long-term utility remediation fund to
cover costs associated with burying cables, power and telephone lines, restoring trees to streets and
removing unneeded structures.
98 85 USA - 2: An annual neighborhood review meeting that highlights achievements, lists current and future
priorities, evaluates problems and provides recommendations will be presented by all city and private
utility providers to the Silver Beach Neighborhood.
118 67 USA - 3: The Silver Beach Neighborhood Association will work to expand the Block Watch Program
throughout the Neighborhood.
113 72 USA - 4: The police will patrol Bloedel Donovan Park and surrounding play areas nightly (particularly in
the summer months) to insure noise ordinance compliance.
94 89 USA - 5: The city will provide emergency response training to the neighborhood on an annual basis.
82 94 USA - 6: A transparent, concise communication process that all utility providers would use will be
developed by the city in conjunction with MNAC.
Yes No
86 96 Parks Recreation & Open Space Action (PROSA) - 1: Existing buildings at Bloedel
Donovan Park shall be scheduled for major remodel work or rework in the near future. Future
improvements shall make the buildings LEED compliant, serving as a model of appropriate public &
commercial construction within the community. The site shall be considered for a watershed education
center.
95 88 PROSA - 2: Develop signage throughout parks and trails to indicate this area is a sensitive watershed
management area.
81 101 PROSA - 3: Develop educational outreach pamphlets that promote responsible use of this natural asset
to be distributed throughout the neighborhood.
87 93 PROSA - 4: Work with DNR to develop a rehabilitation plan for the Lake Whatcom Beach site located
on Northshore between Silvern and Maynard. Signage shall be placed on site to warn swimmers that
this site is polluted.
81 99 PROSA - 5: Safe, small-scale pedestrian and bicycle access should be developed at each public 'Open
Space' site listed above. Clear signage that is visible to both land and lake users should be included.
Consistent fencing, gates and signage should be installed to clearly identify these sites.
82 99 PROSA - 6: The boat launch shall be monitored during seasonal peak use to keep park activities
consistent with the residential character of our neighborhood and responsible watershed management
practices (no refilling gas or oil at the boat launch, etc.). Enforce existing boat launch hours of dawn to
dusk.
75 106 PROSA - 7: The city has over 70 pieces of public art on display, but none at Bloedel Donovan. There
is an opportunity here to use public art to improve the aesthetics of the site. In addition, a sculpture or
mural reminding our community of our relationship with our watershed may serve to motivate better
stewardship of this resource.
105 78 PROSA - 8: The City will recognize that the primary users of the Bloedel Donovan play and swimming
area in the summer season are human, while recognizing the value of dogs in reducing the Canada Goose
population. Clear off-leash dates and hours should be established and posted consistently in city literature
and park signage (current signs and literature provide conflicting dates and times). The off leash times
allowed in the pet ordinance should be consistent with seasonal use of the park. To address concerns of
dog owners and parents, consider ordinance revision allowing year round off-leash activity in the grass and
beach area to the east of the buildings at Bloedel Donovan Park while reserving the play area and
swimming area north and west of the buildings only for human use during summer months.
87 95 PROSA - 9: The city shall install signs supporting the Promote Basic Park & Trail Etiquette
program in support of the educational outreach process.
102 80 PROSA – 10: Lighting in public areas around the lake should be hooded to minimize light pollution.
Yes No
65 109 Lake Whatcom Pure Drinking Water Action (LWPDWA) - 1: Create a city department to be
responsible for the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, its watersheds and associated drinking water treatment
facilities. Pending creation of this department, all jurisdictions shall establish and implement the same
regulations pertaining to the Reservoir, its watershed and associated drinking water treatment facilities; a
single individual shall coordinate these regulations.
98 86 LWPDWA - 2: Determine the pathways by which benzene enters the Reservoir and determine
procedures to interrupt these pathways.
67 116 LWPDWA - 3: Establish a program that requires an annual inspection and permit for any fossil fueled
vessel to operate on Lake Whatcom Reservoir. Permitted vessels shall prominently display a permit
sticker when on the Reservoir or when entering or leaving the Reservoir. Fees collected by this program
shall be used to enforce the program and monitor the effect of fossil fueled vessels on the Reservoir.
68 115 LWPDWA - 4: Prohibit fueling of boats at public boat launches on the Reservoir – this would include
all of Bloedel Donavan Park – and on roads within 1,000 feet of a launch site.
67 115 LWPDWA - 5: Only permit fuel tanks that attach directly to engines on the Reservoir; prohibit all other
fuel containers from use on Lake Whatcom.
83 99 LWPDWA - 6: Exclude all carbureted two cycle engines from Lake Whatcom Reservoir.
100 81 LWPDWA - 7: Require that the few remaining septic systems within Bellingham’s city limits be
connected to the sewer system.
97 85 LWPDWA - 8: Lift the Sudden Valley golf course’s exemption from the phosphorus fertilizer ban in
the watershed. Examine and implement ways in which the Sudden Valley golf course may be managed to
reduce or eliminate the use of all fertilizer.
78 103 LWPDWA - 9: Require chipping and ban burning of material left over after any form of land clearing.
80 100 LWPDWA - 10: Require that wood burning stoves meet EPA criteria for smoke emissions and work to
upgrade stoves already in use that do not meet these criteria.
61 123 LWPDWA - 11: Ban the use of fireworks inside the watershed.
88 94 LWPDWA - 12: Study and implement methods of reducing the Canada goose population in the Lake
Whatcom watershed. This would include discouraging the planting of grass adjacent to water frequented
by Canada geese and promote alternatives to lawn in areas where geese are known to feed or nest.
94 87 LWPDWA - 13: Determine the deleterious impact of unused pilings in and near the Reservoir.
Prepare and implement a plan to remove unused pilings, beginning with those determined to be most
harmful to water quality.
Yes No
73 106 Lake Whatcom Public Education Action (LWPEA) - 1: Craft and implement a personal
outreach program utilizing city staff, SBNA, Master Gardeners, industry experts and others. This group
will provide stewardship education for watershed residents that advocates appropriate stormwater
management, gardening, home and auto maintenance practices, particularly during periods of peak
outdoor activity.
77 103 LWPEA - 2: Enhance existing and implement new education programs that address daily
homeowner practices such as fertilizing, watering, landscape layout, construction and stormwater control.
75 108 LWPEA - 3: Require education, training and certification of commercial landscapers who do work in
the watershed.
63 116 LWPEA - 4: Require education, training and certification for construction personnel doing concrete
work, asphalt work, land excavation, earth moving, land clearing or disturbance, repair to existing
underground utilities or exterior painting.
68 109 LWPEA - 5: Provide watershed protection training to all city and county employees, including police,
fire, public works, planning and also elected officials to insure that they understand their responsibility and
accountability to report and respond to noncompliance with watershed regulations.
67 113 LWPEA - 6: Establish a single 24/7-point of contact for citizens to report watershed concerns and
insure a timely response.
71 109 LWPEA - 7: Provisions shall be made in the city and county budgets for funding ongoing and special
watershed education programs.
70 106 LWPEA - 8: The city will conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of current education programs
with SBNA and residents.
69 107 LWPEA - 9: Establish a coordinating group between the city and county to address watershed
education concerns in areas adjacent to the city.
68 112 LWPEA - 10: Tailor education programs to address specific homeowner practices tied to stormwater
pollutants found on or near their property.
65 113 LWPEA - 11: Develop educational programs at Silver Beach School to protect the adjacent watershed
protection property.
78 101 LWPEA - 12: The City and SBNA in partnership with Silver Beach School will plan and implement
landscaping changes to enable the school grounds to be a model for best practices for watershed
protection.
65 110 LWPEA - 13: Provide moveable educational signage at key locations during different times of the year,
on the water, in participating yards, along rights of ways, during construction, at community meetings and
schools.
85 91 LWPEA - 14: Continue mailings, news releases, presentations at public meetings, BTV broadcasts and
inserts in local print media and seek innovative messages for Lake Whatcom Reservoir Stewardship.
67 115 LWPEA - 15: Establish 5th and 6th grade educational programs addressing Lake Whatcom Reservoir
protection.
63 111 LWPEA - 16: Redevelop and implement a Watershed Stewardship Program.
68 108 LWPEA - 17: People have to know and believe that there is a problem, and they have to know what
they CAN do about it. Only then, will they choose to act. Much of that education can be done by
individuals and by the SBNA. An ‘educated neighbors-talking-to-neighbors’ program should be
implemented.
Yes No
53 128 Lake Whatcom Stormwater Management Action (LWSMA) – 1: Individual property owners and
occupants should install on-site treatment or infiltration/recharge facilities on their own properties, and
minimize the amount of water that flows off-site. Many of the solutions involve low technology and low
cost such as rain barrels or dry wells. We believe that costs for more expensive solutions should be
shared or funded completely by City grants such as the Stormwater Retrofit Program.
70 113 LWSMA – 2: Roadway signs and pavement markings highlight the path and effect of chemicals from
vehicles. The City's infiltration/recharge and treatment facilities on public properties will substantially
reduce the amount of pollutants that are carried off the road surfaces. The City will conduct a national
search for known best practices and collaborates with researchers on this topic for even better practices.
78 98 LWSMA – 3: Stormwater treatment facilities that are installed and operated by the jurisdictions shall
have a maintenance program that assures that the facility meets the original specifications. They shall
have regular and effective water quality testing of inflow and outflow to determine the success or
failure of each facility. The City and the SBNA shall publish and distribute these reports.
81 103 LWSMA – 4: Everyone who lives or travels in the reservoir should refrain from allowing such
materials to be placed on the land in such a way that those chemicals can enter the runoff stream or the
Reservoir.
55 123 LWSMA – 5: In order to establish a fair and equitable city-wide stormwater management program, the
City will implement a three-tiered program that includes incentives to assist property owners in managing
stormwater runoff from their property with natural (low technology) techniques or fees for those who
choose not to manage their property’s runoff that shall be used to pay for off-site mitigation. The
enforcement of existing City Codes will include fines to be used to mitigate any negative impacts caused
by the infractions.
70 108 LWSMA-6: The City of Bellingham will develop and fund a voluntary program to support retention of
existing trees in the watershed and the planting of new and replacement trees using the “right tree, right
place” management policy that compliments the city’s existing street tree policy.
Yes No
90 87 Lake Whatcom Monitoring Action (LWMA) - 1: Continue the current annual reservoir water
column and enhanced tributary monitoring program.
87 90 LWMA - 2: Characterize organic contamination in lake water and sediment including traditional organic
compounds on the priority pollutant list such as pesticides, herbicides, phthalates, phenols and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, and add other emerging compounds of concern such as pharmaceuticals, flame
retardants and endocrine disrupters. Continue a program of periodic monitoring to track any changes.
Each organic pollutant of interest should be monitored at least once during each 5-year period, more
frequently for pollutants with concentrations trending upwards.
92 87 LWMA - 3: Regularly monitor benzene contamination of the reservoir and the city’s treated drinking
water. Determine the pathways by which benzene enters the reservoir.
82 94 LWMA - 4: Determine the impacts to aquatic organisms, water quality and potentially human health
from the leaching of contaminants from oxygen-depleted bottom sediments during reservoir
stratification.