Future of Yew Street

On April 27, 2010, the matter of Yew Street becoming developed as an Urban Growth Area was brought to a vote during a Bellingham County Council meeting. Council members Kathy Kershner, Bill Knutzen, L. Ward Nelson, and Sam Crawford all supported this matter but five votes were ultimately needed for it to pass and the county executive has the ability to veto four votes. Therefore, Yew Street will preserve its current standing as an Urban Reserve. According to Nelson, the council and the mayor did not want Yew Street to be developed as an Urban Growth Area, despite the fact that it was included in the comprehensive plan, because they felt that it was not necessary for the population growth.

What does this mean for the future of the Yew Street area? According to Crawford, Yew Street will remain an Urban Reserve in order for the city of Bellingham to conduct a more thorough study to assure that it would be appropriate for it to be an Urban Growth Area in the future. Yew Street has only been classified as an Urban Reserve since Nov. 24, 2009 but prior to then, Yew Street was considered an Urban Growth Area for many years.

“I didn’t support the decision for it to be an Urban Reserve. I wanted it to stay as an Urban Growth Area” Crawford said. “It’s been an Urban Growth Area for 15 years but now the city is having second thoughts.”

The Yew Street Urban Growth Area issue will be up for review again in 2011. However, the state has extended the deadline until Dec. 2014. By law, they have to have reviewed it by that date but the county council would still like to strive to have Yew Street reviewed by 2011 regardless of the three year extension.

“This is like the second bite at the apple,” Crawford said. “We’re going back and taking a look to see if it was the right decision.”

"Yew Street as an Urban Growth Area: Resolved?" by Michelle Naranjo (previous article about Yew Street)

Whatcom County Council Agenda Ordinance- proposed on April 13, 2010

"Lawyer Up!" by Tim Johnson: article in the Cascadia Weekly regarding the County Council board meeting (page 8)