BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Neighbors are concerned about development plans for what they call one of the most valuable ecological areas in Whatcom County.
The shoreline around Bellingham’s Mud Bay is home to shellfish, salmon and heron, but could soon to home to dozens of luxury residences.
"Seventy-five percent of Bellingham's shoreline has been developed. This is one of the few remaining spots Bellingham has," said Wendy Larson, who leads regular walking tours of the area.
Low tide reveals a fragile ecosystem involving a major estuary and habitat for all sorts of sea life and birds.
Opponents said the development could lead to more than 100 residences, but the current property owners said they plan to build 38 units, less than the current zoning density permits of 82 lots.
A spokesman for the property owners said all the current reports and studies only took into account those 38 units and more could not be added without additional approvals and reviews.
A Bellingham family has owned the property for over 70 years and has resided in the area for three generations.
“They have been exploring options for development of their property for over 30 years, with the intent to prepare a thoughtful, ecologically balanced proposal for the property,” part of the statement from a spokesperson says.
When Larson heard about the development The Woods at Viewcrest, she thought it was “an extremely bad idea.”
Neighbors worry about the the destabilization of the hillside as well as the impacts on salmon, shellfish and Bellingham's last existing heron colony.
The City of Bellingham paid $700,000 to move the Post Point heron colony when developers chased them off land just a mile away, in 1999.
"There's a lot of passion that has gone into helping and protecting the Post Point herons," said Larson.
Neighbors are demanding the developers submit an independent Environmental Impact Statement to the city.
So far, one hasn't been conducted. However, a spokesperson for the property owners said the project application included a number of detailed studies and reports, including about geohazards, wetlands, habitat, and traffic impacts.
“The design avoids any direct wetland impacts,” they said in a written statement, adding that all runoff will be captured and treated before it is discharged into the bay.
However, neighbors argue relying on information gathered by developers isn’t enough.
"The city relies completely on the developer to provide information. So, the developers tell them, there's nothing to see here; this is a great idea. And the city doesn't have any other information," said Larson.
"I don't think we can trust the developers to hire their own experts," neighbor John Goodman added.
Larson believes an Environmental Impact Statement is the minimum developers should do to be sure the impacts on the waters of Mud Bay are crystal clear.
"We're not against development," she said. "We just want to make sure it's following all the things that are there to protect the public and protect the environment."