Has Ferndale finally proposed an Urban Growth Area that is the right size?
Following our
successful challenge to the County Council’s decision to expand the Ferndale UGA, we now have a new
proposal from the Ferndale City Council to review.
The latest proposal from Ferndale is encouraging. The city has now completed updates to the sewer, water, transportation, stormwater and fire district plans. The city has proposed additional reductions to the UGA. Most of the area within the Drayton Harbor watershed is removed from the UGA, being held in "reserve for urban growth". The city continues to work on increasing density within the urban areas.
Getting the Ferndale UGA the right size is important. Ferndale is one of the least dense urban areas in Whatcom County -- in fact, in Washington State. Recent Census data (
click here) shows that out of 253 Urban Growth Areas in Washington State, there are just 7 UGAs with less population per square mile that are comparable in population to Ferndale. Bellingham, on the other hand, is in the top 50 of population per square mile.
In Whatcom County, Ferndale doesn't measure up, either. Lynden and the Foothills UGA are fine examples of small UGAs that meet density expectations.
Urban Growth Area Name | Total Population, 2010 | Population Density (Persons / Square Mile), 2010 |
Bellingham UGA | 91,251 | 2,558 |
Lynden UGA | 12,160 | 2,049 |
Whatcom County Foothills UGA | 3,061 | 1,795 |
Nooksack UGA | 1,363 | 1,568 |
Everson UGA | 2,596 | 1,344 |
Birch Bay UGA | 7,391 | 1,303 |
Ferndale UGA | 11,947 | 1,282 |
Sumas UGA | 1,307 | 852 |
Blaine UGA | 5,023 | 789 |
As we look into the future, which is the primary reason for "planning", we should use these facts to help change the trends. The Census data is a snapshot that planning might work to correct. We should turn to our planning documents for that guidance.
When we look at the County's Comprehensive Plan, it sets expectations for urban densities -- allowing the smaller cities to be less dense than Bellingham, but still setting benchmarks. What does the plan say, and how is this latest proposal meeting that expectation?
The County's Comprehensive Plan says that Ferndale should plan at densities averaging 5 to 10 units per acre. But in the proposal adopted by the County Council last year, and in this latest proposal, they continue to analyze the size of the UGA at densities below the range set in the plan: 4.7 units per acre. Why plan if you don't intend to follow it?
Thanks to the staff at Whatcom County that provided me with electronic records within 24 hours, I have been able to "crunch the numbers" before posting this blog. When I adjust the density calculation to at least 5 units per acre, and update assumptions using new Census numbers, the UGA proposed by Ferndale is 71 "net" acres too large -- or around 150 overall acres. While this isn't the balanced size the County is
reporting, it is closer to being the right size than the previous proposal.
The question now turns to whether they have proposed a UGA in the right place, and with the needed public facilities and services.
But before we leave the conversation of density too quickly, as a region and community, it would behoove us to think real hard about whether having growth in outlying communities at even 5 units per acre is good for our county. Agricultural lands and sensitive lands surround these "urban" areas. As they grow out, they grow into our resource lands and critical habitat. Are we better off having the type of densities like Bellingham has achieved to accommodate future populations in order to protect our resource-based economy?
Look at the following two images produced by Bellingham GIS staff (
available on the web) to graphically show the difference in density that is taking place in Bellingham compared to other areas, and in the time period of 1990 to 2010.
1990 Density |
2010 Density |
We need to think whether to encourage growth at 5 units per acre as planned in Ferndale, or to encourage growth at 10 - 15 units per acre. Future generations depend on decisions that are made today on this subject.
The city should be encouraged to plan wisely -- they are headed in the right direction. But, that doesn't mean that we don't need to hold the county and city accountable to making sure that they achieve the densities that they have planned for, so that we are not back in 10 years expecting yet another expansion of UGAs into resource lands. The county and city need to enact minimum densities, and purchase/transfer development rights off our agricultural lands. They need to get going on this before it is too late.
The Whatcom County Planning Commission is scheduled to have a public
hearing on the Ferndale UGA proposal on July 14, 2011.
Up Next: Ferndale Public Facilities and Services
