Special Edition: Whatcom's 20 year Plan

Whatcom County's 20-Year Growth Plan Is Being Written Right Now. Here's What You Need to Know.

The Story

The document that will shape where housing gets built, which rural roads get upgraded, and how much of Whatcom County stays farmland for the next two decades is currently being finalized, and the public has a front-row seat. Whatcom County Council has begun its final review of the draft Comprehensive Plan, the state-required blueprint governing growth and development in unincorporated Whatcom County through 2045. The review officially launched March 3, and a vote on the final ordinance is set for May 12.

The county is moving through the plan chapter by chapter in a series of Special Committee of the Whole meetings. The first session covered Land Use and Housing. Upcoming sessions will tackle Capital Facilities, Utilities, Transportation, Economic Development, Natural Resources, Recreation, Climate, and the Environment. At the start of each Special Committee session, 30 minutes are reserved for public comment, with each speaker given two minutes. Comments must address the chapters under discussion that day.

Residents who cannot attend in person have two additional options: speak at the regularly scheduled evening County Council meetings during Open Session, or email the council directly with written comments. The county has built a public-facing website with advisory group feedback, Planning Commission recommendations, and the full draft plan for reference.

The final sequence ends with an April 28 introduction of the Comprehensive Plan ordinance and a May 12 public hearing before the full council, where the ordinance will receive its final vote. That hearing will be the last formal opportunity for public input before the plan becomes law.

Why It Matters

For most residents, "comprehensive plan" sounds like something only planners and developers track. But this document directly shapes the texture of daily life in Whatcom County: which neighborhoods can add housing density, which areas get infrastructure investment, where commercial development is permitted, and what environmental protections apply to specific parcels of land. It is not abstract. It is the rules your neighbor's new construction project has to follow.

Housing is the chapter drawing the most attention this cycle. With rents rising and housing inventory tight across Western Washington, decisions about urban growth boundaries, multi-family zoning, and where the county accommodates new residents will have real, lasting consequences for affordability. The plan also integrates new state requirements on climate resilience planning, meaning decisions made this spring will influence how the county prepares for flooding, drought, and other long-term environmental pressures.

If you own property, rent, farm, or simply care about what the next 20 years look like for Bellingham and the surrounding area, this plan is worth paying attention to. The review meetings are public, the draft is online, and the comment window is open right now.

What to Watch

• Tuesday, March 10 (time TBD): County Council Committee of the Whole continues discussion of Chapters 1 (Introduction), 2 (Land Use), and 3 (Housing). Check the Legislative Information Center for a confirmed start time.

• Tuesday, March 17 at 9am: Special Committee of the Whole covering Chapters 4 through 7: Capital Facilities, Utilities, Transportation, and Economic Development. Thirty minutes of public comment are reserved at the start. Attend in person or submit written comment to [email protected].

• Tuesday, May 12 at 6pm: Full council public hearing and final vote on the Comprehensive Plan ordinance. This is the last formal opportunity for community input before the plan is adopted.

Background

Washington State's Growth Management Act requires counties to review and update their Comprehensive Plans every 10 years. This cycle's deadline was December 31, 2025. The Whatcom County process has been underway for several years, involving an Environmental Impact Statement, Planning Commission hearings, advisory committee meetings, and multiple rounds of community input. The county's current plan dates from the last mandatory update cycle.

Two state laws added new obligations to this round: HB 1220, which expanded housing production and planning requirements, and HB 1181, which added climate change planning as a required element. Both are incorporated into the draft. Urban growth area boundaries, which determine where cities can legally expand, are also being reviewed as part of this update, a process that directly affects long-term housing supply in areas like Bellingham, Ferndale, and Lynden.

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