Silver Beach Neighborhood Association seeks public comment on neighborhood plan

Silver Beach residents have until July 1 to submit written comments to the president of the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association with input about the recently adopted neighborhood plan , which will effect land use in Silver beach, before it is submitted to the city of Bellingham for approval and implementation.
The plan is organized into nine chapters. Each chapter focuses on how the city and Silver Beach landowners can act to transform the neighborhood into a “model for lake preservation and rehabilitation” by 2020.
The plan was passed by the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association at their meeting on May 13, with the condition that citizens would be allowed to submit written comments to the association’s president David Jefferson until 5p.m. on July 1.
Jim Tragesser is a neighborhood association member who voted in favor of the neighborhood plan. Tragesser said the association has been debating the plan for more than three years because “there is a great divide between people who believe they should be able to do whatever they want on their property, and people who want to protect Lake Whatcom since it’s our drinking water source.”
On May 13, Jefferson encouraged Silver Beach residents to read the plan, and he said he is available to meet with anyone to discuss the plan before the July 1 commenting deadline.
“I’ll do my best to describe the history [of the plan] and why it is the way it is. I always have time for a meeting over coffee and I’m willing to meet with anyone to address their questions or concerns,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson said each submission will be discussed and voted upon at the association’s next meeting on July 8 before it is submitted to the city for approval.

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