Port updates City Club on waterfront

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Editor’s note: The Port of Bellingham and city of Bellingham have joined forces to redevelop 137 waterfront acres the port acquired from Georgia- Pacific in 2005 and another 83 acres of waterfront property. This weekly update is provided by the port.

Wednesday, the Port of Bellingham will give an update on The Waterfront District, Bellingham International Airport and Blaine waterfront redevelopment at a City Club monthly meeting at Northwood Hall, 3240 Northwest Ave. The noon program is open to the public. Lunch costs $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

PLANNING CONTINUES

Last week, the port Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to continue developing a draft master plan for the waterfront. The goal is to have a draft plan completed in June to use for proposed preferred alternative in a final environmental impact statement. An additional 30-day public comment period will occur this summer.

Contracts the commission approved will provide detailed engineering and cost estimates for transportation phasing alternatives. Because of elevation changes, access to the site could be done with fill, bridges or some combination of both. This analysis should answer questions about the choices.

The commission also launched a study of utility options that could include treating all storm- and wastewater on site, using alternative energy sources and other sustainable solutions. These ideas are being evaluated for cost and feasibility.

WATERFRONT PROGRESS

Also last week, the commission was updated about progress on The Waterfront District in the past six months.

Next steps include completion of the environmental impact statement and master plan and updates to both port and city economic models for the full project.