President’s Update

Edgemoor Neighborhood Association

I will be sending the President’s Update to you monthly, separately from the ENA Newsletter. It provides for some flexibility and for the inclusion of last minute items.

As I review all the important issues that have come to the forefront, in the last few months, affecting our city and neighborhood, I think of how timely it was that our neighborhood association came together this summer. Much of the Association’s work initially has been based on ideas generated by the ENA Committees and focused internally on our neighborhood. Recently, however, there has been an explosion of external issues which will direct our focus to the entire Southside and the City of Bellingham as well.

The ongoing development boom in Fairhaven and the impending 100 Acre Woods Development (Chuckanut Ridge) will have real consequences on the Southside. The potential loss of green space, increased traffic, enrollment pressures on our schools, new roads and other infrastructure will affect our quality of life and place an increased demand on the services the city now provides. This demand along with the restrictive tax policies in Washington State mean budget shortfalls for the foreseeable future. I have been attending City Council meetings and work sessions on the budget and it has been a real eye opener. There are no easy choices ahead. I’d like to elaborate on a few of the more pressing issues before us.

First, the Fairhaven Library is in jeopardy. Once again this beloved, historic Carnegie Library is being threatened by city budget cuts. An added irony is that The Fairhaven Library is celebrating its Centennial Birthday this year. Call or email all City Council members citycouncil@cob.org if you care about preserving this community center for reading, learning and meeting. Plan to join the Friends of the Fairhaven Library on Saturday December 11, from 1 to 3 pm, hopefully for a Centennial Celebration rather than a memorial.

Second, another large scale mixed use project is proposed for Fairhaven. There is a legally required pre-application meeting being held by the developer this Monday, November 29^th, 7 pm at the Fairhaven Library. The project will be explained and your comments and questions will be taken. Be sure to attend if you have concerns or just want information.

Related to this issue there is a citizens group forming to encourage the city to impose a building moratorium on large scale projects in Fairhaven until a plan is developed for the entire Fairhaven area. They want the city to take into account the interests of the residents and small business owners and to tackle important transportation issues like parking and traffic. Contact David Carlsen at eclipsebook@earthlink.net or Ralph Thacker at rwthacke@fidalgo.net

Third, a large scale development just across Chuckanut Road in the South Neighborhood may be in the offing. This area has been affectionately referred to over the years as the 100 Acre Woods (re: Winnie the Pooh) and not so affectionately as the Chuckanut Ridge development. Its new official name has yet to be publicized but the land was recently purchased for approximately 14 million dollars. The city attempted to purchase this property several times with Greenway Funds but the asking price was always far above assessed value. How this area is developed will undoubtedly have a major impact on our neighborhood.

These issues plus many more will be touched on at our Monthly Meeting next Thursday, Dec 2 at the Fairhaven Pavilion from 7-9 pm. We have a full agenda starting with Sarah Slevin of the Whatcom County Dispute Resolution Center. She will speak and take questions on the neighborhood peer mediation program. The View Committee has proposed that the association endorse a mediation mechanism and has asked Sarah to explain the process to the membership.

The Growth and Land Use Committee has several proposals to present for membership approval

1. Official ENA support for the Fairhaven Library

2. Participation of the ENA in a Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods

3. An annual budget request

4. Dividing the Committee into two with one working exclusively on the neighborhood plan

5. official sanction of the ENA to investigate and bring recommendations for action on the 100 Acre Woods Development, Briza/Viewcrest Development and Fairhaven Condominium Moratorium and Parking Plan Revision.

The Bylaws Committee will have a short report, The Safety Committee will provide an update on their activities and The Membership Committee has a proposal for advertising on the ENA website.

Come to the meeting prepared to share your thoughts and ideas on these issues. For further information consult the Committees Page on the ENA website.

I will do my best to keep you informed of issues that arise both in our neighborhood and city-wide, but I encourage all of you to become involved in some way. Attend a City Council or Planning Commission meeting. Bring your middle and high school aged children with you. Have them speak during the public comment period about an issue that matters to them. It is only through an informed and involved citizenry that we can effect change in a positive way.

Please feel free to call 752-2030 or send an email stercek@comcast.net about any of the items covered in this update or on any other neighborhood or civic issues. Hope to see you at the meeting Thursday.

Sue Tercek

Interim President