“To be or not to be?” is certainly the question concerning Urban Growth Areas surrounding Yew Street in Samish neighborhood. Urban Growth Areas, in the Yew Street region of Samish, have been an on and off again hot topic amongst county officials for the last several years.
Meeting Ajourned
On April 27, 2010, the Bellingham County Council had a meeting to discuss and vote on the future of Yew Street as it pertains to Urban Growth Areas. In the end, the vote was 5-2 in favor of not restoring development plans in this particular region; at least for now. Council member, Bill Knutzen, said that even though the council currently has decided to forgo the restoration of Yew Street as an Urban Growth Area, that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t change. In addition to filing an ordinance within the next few weeks, Yew Street will be included in the 2011 comprehensive plan. So once again, Yew Street development plans remain up in the air.
Surrounded by trees and within close range to Lake Padden, the Samish neighborhood offers its community a quaint atmosphere. The absence of businesses in Samish adds to a more secluded and calm feeling overall. Both residents and county officials believe that feeling could be shaken if Yew street were to become an Urban Growth Area.
What is an Urban Growth Area?
An Urban Growth Area is an area that can be subdivided into smaller lots and therefore allow for more urban development to occur within that designated area and less development to occur outside that area. Greg McCracken, President of the Samish Neighborhood Association, feels that this project could have the potential to cause several problems in the area.
“The SNA board is concerned about traffic throughout the neighborhood if they develop in the area above Lake Padden,” McCracken said. “Many of our roads are not made to handle arterial traffic and any increase on them would be a cause of concern for the safety of pedestrians and drivers as well.”
McCracken voiced concern for increased traffic around Lake Padden specifically and not just the neighborhoods and streets surrounding it. His fear is that the increased activity in that area could harm the ecology of Lake Padden in a similar way that Lake Whatcom experienced ecological damage.
Through The Eyes of Residents
For some residents living along Yew Street, the idea of development is strongly welcomed. Donna and Gordon Smith have lived in Samish for the last 30 years and are now retired and enjoy daily walks up and down Yew Street hill. The Smiths think that it is high time for Yew Street to embrace the title and features of an Urban Growth Area.
“A lot of people don’t want to see this side of town get ignored but that is what’s happening,” Donna Smith said. “Development is happening toward Meridian and the airport but they don’t want any development on Lakeway. The closer you get you Lakeway, you’ll find that more people want it developed.”
The intersection of Lakeway Drive and Yew Street is a region of Samish where housing developments have already started to pop up. However, not many of these homes are selling due to the fact that no one is really looking to buy homes during the current economic recession.
Another issue with Yew Street is that the city controls all water and sewer lines which aren’t available to all parts of the region. “Anything above city limits in the Yew area will mean you have to put in your own well,” Gordon Smith said. “It used to be mandatory to hook up to the water line beyond city limits but then they changed their minds.”
So even though there are varying opinions on what should or should not be done in the Yew area, residents will have to wait even longer to hear the council’s consensus and to see the conclusion of this ongoing matter.
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