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 29th, 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