Bellingham mayor announces plans to combat city’s housing shortage, City of Bellingham seeks feedback on designs for two new playgrounds, Bellingham to construct roundabout connecting James St. and Bakerview Road, Bellingham resident sets world record for women’s ultramarathon, BP shelves plans to construct green hydrogen plant at Cherry Point, Bellingham, Whatcom, and state unemployment rates all report increases in October, Free and Cheap, Several Inslee-appointed state agency personnel to step down in advance of Ferguson taking office
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, November 22nd. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Bellingham mayor announces plans to combat city’s housing shortage
Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund announced an executive order yesterday to address the city’s housing shortage.
According to the order, the city will focus on three key actions: expanding diverse housing options, streamlining the permitting processes, and incentivizing affordable housing and tiny home developments. The order comes in response to a drop in home construction permits—dropping from 1,200 units three years ago to just 422 last year—and rising housing costs, with 54% of renters considered cost-burdened.
Key initiatives in this new approach include:
- Removal of parking minimums required for new construction citywide to reduce costs and environmental impact;
- Allowing duplexes and cottage homes in all neighborhoods, and;
- Prioritizing permit reviews for affordable housing and infill developments.
In addition, the City says it plans to identify a site for a new tiny home village and will continue efforts to secure more land for affordable housing. Mayor Lund emphasized the urgency of jumpstarting the measures, noting that while some changes are state-mandated, they also align with community feedback.
Bellingham Communications Director Melissa Morin says she expects these actions to spur housing growth despite recent challenges like high interest rates.
STORY: City of Bellingham seeks feedback on designs for two new playgrounds
The City also said it seeks community feedback on redesign plans for the playgrounds at Bloedel (blow-DELL) Donovan and Rock Hill parks.
Originally installed in 1999, the upgrades aim to improve safety and accessibility. The plans include removing the current playground equipment at both parks and the installation of new features. Rock Hill Park will also gain accessible parking, a walkway, and seating options like picnic tables and benches.
Citizens can review the design options—three for Bloedel Donovan and two for Rock Hill—and provide input on the Engage Bellingham site by Monday. Parks staff will attend neighborhood meetings in February to gather further input.
Construction is scheduled for June and July of 2026.
STORY: Bellingham to construct roundabout connecting James St. and Bakerview Road
By this time next year, Bellingham will have a new roundabout.
The City Council’s Public Works committee voted unanimously to approve a contract bid to install a roundabout at the intersection of James Street and Bakerview Road, with the full council approving it on Monday. The contract was awarded by the City Council to Faber Construction for nearly $4.3 million.
Officials expect the project to last about 50 days beginning next April. Roads near the intersection will be partially or fully closed during that time.
STORY: Bellingham resident sets world record for women’s ultramarathon
The new world record in the women’s 50-mile race has been set by a Bellingham resident.
Pending verification, Courtney Olsen is set to hold the record after she ran the 50 miles at Vienna, Illinois’ Tunnel Hill ultramarathon earlier this month at 5:31:56 (5 hours, 31 minutes and 56 seconds). That’s over eight minutes faster than the world record set in 1991.
Olsen, a Squalicum High School graduate and a former all-American runner at Western, ramped up her training in the months leading to the November 9 race.
While the record won’t be official until it’s verified by the International Association of UItrarunners, the United States Association of Track and Field has already recognized Olsen with its Athlete of the Week honor.
STORY: BP shelves plans to construct green hydrogen plant at Cherry Point
British Petroleum has shelved its green hydrogen plant project at the Cherry Point Refinery.
The oil giant had previously shortlisted its Whatcom County refinery as one of five sites worldwide for a large, standalone sustainable aviation fuels facility. The facility would be fed by a green hydrogen plant, but BP now says they are moving toward creating sustainable fuel with mostly existing capabilities in the county.
According to Reuters, under the leadership of CEO Murray Auchincloss (OW-sheen-closs), BP has moved away from its strategy of growing renewables and cutting oil and gas output by 40% by 2030. A recent quarterly report indicates that the company has halted 18 early-stage hydrogen projects.
STORY: Bellingham, Whatcom, and state unemployment rates all report increases in October
Unemployment rates rose in Whatcom County and Bellingham last month, while Washington state ranked fifth-highest in unemployment nationwide.
According to data from the state’s Employment Security Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Whatcom increased to 4.4% in September. Despite the monthly rise, October 2024’s rate matches last October’s rate of 4.1%.
The unemployment rate in Bellingham also rose to 4.4% in September, while unemployment state-wide decreased to 4.7%, but still remains higher than last year’s 3.8%.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
Starting today, Allied Arts will be hosting its 45th annual Holiday Festival of the Arts at 1331 Commercial Street in Bellingham. The five-week-long holiday market will run through Christmas Eve, and will feature over a hundred local artisans, live music, workshops for kids and more. Market purchases can also be made online. More information can be found at Allied Arts’ website.
Krampus Night will be taking place tomorrow from 6-till-10pm at the Chuckanut Bay Distillery Ballroom at Cornwall Avenue. This will be the ballroom’s grand opening, as well as the release of the distillery’s 4-year-old barrel-aged Krampus liqueur. Besides that, there will be costumes, dancing and good food. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased at Chuckanut Bay’s website.
Finally, the Mount Baker Theatre will host the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra’s Americana at 3pm on Sunday. The show will include performances ranging from John Williams’ score for “The Cowboys” to a mandolin concerto. Tickets starting at $15 can be purchased at MBT’s website.
WX: The Windledon tennis tournament
And now weather:
The morning’s advisory may be over, but we still expect strong winds for the rest of today, with gusts reaching up to 32 mph. Cloudy skies and scattered showers, alongside daytime highs around the mid-low 50s. Nighttime lows are projected in the mid-low 40s.
The winds should drop off over the weekend, leaving only clouds and rain.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Riley Weeks, Brodey O’Brien, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m David Korb________________… thanks for listening.
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STORY: Several Inslee-appointed state agency personnel to step down in advance of Ferguson taking office
Washington Secretary of Health Umair Shah (oo-MARE SHAW) announced he will join several state agency leaders and step down next month, in advance of governor-elect Bob Ferguson’s installation in January.
Shah is among six members of Governor Inslee’s executive cabinet departing as Ferguson, currently Washington’s attorney general, prepares to become the state’s 23rd governor.
Leadership changes after elections are not uncommon, even when the same political party maintains control. Ferguson is expected to announce key appointments soon, following his earlier naming of an eight-person executive leadership team.
