A proposal to allow retail businesses on Highway 20 near March Point probably is not going to happen, at least not this year.
Another idea — to allow building triplexes or fourplexes in the southeastern part of the city without a special permit — is likely to be put on hold.
The City Council on Monday will discuss proposed changes to the 16,700-resident community’s development codes and zones and more than likely will put some of the proposals on hold until the new year, said Ian Munce, retiring city planner. That’s because in the case of the at least one proposed rezone, hundreds of notices would have to be sent out, and there is no time to get it done this year, he said.
The City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 904 6th St.
The council has been working on changes to the development regulations for about nine months. Some of the more controversial proposals include raising the height limit of buildings in the city’s downtown and preventing chain retailers from moving into the city’s historic business district.
Harbor Lands, a Bellingham developer, wants to put retail on 5 acres near March Point, an area zoned industrial, Munce said. So far the council has been resistant to similar proposals in recent years.
Local developer Al Johnson has proposed changing the zone between 34th Street and Highway 20, a light industrial zone with homes that were built for the employees of several historic lumber mills. Johnson wants to build triplexes and fourplexes without applying for a conditional-use permit, under the current regulations, Munce said.
Johnson also proposed changing the boundaries of the central business district zone, Munce said.
State laws require mailing notices to people affected by zoning changes, and Munce said the last two proposals would mean mailing hundreds.
