Whatcom County Planning Commission

**A. Coast Millennium Trail — BP Cherry Point Conflict** The most contested issue of the meeting concerned the Coast Millennium Trail corridor shown on Map 9-2 crossing BP Cherry Point Refinery's private property in Blaine. The trail concept originated approximately 25 years ago when Trillium Corporation commissioned a plan, but according to testimony from Recreation Northwest founder Todd Ellsworth, the project lost its institutional steward and has had no formal governing entity since. The route has appeared in county, city, and regional planning documents for decades, including the Whatcom Council of Governments planning map. Katherine Mitchell, representing BP Cherry Point, testified that the company objects to the routing on multiple grounds: it crosses private property without consent, it places the public in proximity to an active heavy industrial refinery, and it is incompatible with existing land use and zoning designations that Chapter 2 of the comprehensive plan specifically protects from incompatible uses. BP submitted a written alternative alignment routed east of the refinery property — submitted late on the day of the meeting — which staff presented on screen during the work session. Commission Chair Barton noted that BP has raised these objections before the commission on multiple occasions over more than a decade, becoming progressively firmer in opposition. He characterized the permission issue as settled: BP does not want the trail and their permission is required. Commissioner Greif offered a contrasting perspective, arguing that conceptual trail lines on a planning map create no present obligation and that future negotiations between the county and BP — particularly if BP seeks a zoning change or other county action — could produce a mutually beneficial easement agreement. Commissioner Eisenberg agreed with Greif's framing but also emphasized the importance of consulting with private landowners. Ellsworth testified that Recreation Northwest is positioning itself to become the steward of the Coast Millennium Trail planning effort and is engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions with the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the City of Ferndale, and the Lummi Nation. Knox acknowledged that the Parks Department had not proactively consulted with BP before this update cycle, stating the department assumed existing maps had legacy authorization. The commission ultimately voted to reroute the conceptual corridor on the map while retaining it as a wide-corridor depiction rather than a precise line — a compromise framing offered by Commissioner Browne, who argued that narrow lines imply existing trails and discourage alternative landowners from engaging with the county, while wide corridors signal intent without specificity. **B. Bellingham-to-Mount Baker Trail — Map Accuracy** Daniel Probst, project lead for the Bellingham Mount Baker Trail, testified that his 116-year-old trail project is currently 99.9% on public land, with only 100 yards of the route in private ownership. He noted that over the past two years he worked with a land trust and Council Member Carol Frazey to enable the county's purchase of 40 acres along Jones Creek, which would enable a connection over Stewart Mountain into Acme. He submitted written comments requesting the commission incorporate his proposed route into the plan. Commissioners discussed why Map 9-2 shows much of the Beta Baker route as "proposed" when significant sections have been c…

**Sonia Max (member of public):** Strongly supportive of retaining all conceptual multi-use trail corridors in the Recreation chapter, including the Beta Baker and Coast Millennium Trails. Argued that multi-use trails connecting population centers generate significant economic and public health returns, citing examples from neighboring counties and the Olympic Discovery Trail. Stated removing trails from planning maps eliminates the county's ability to pursue grant funding. **Todd Ellsworth (founder and CEO, Recreation Northwest):** Testified that Recreation Northwest is prepared to become the institutional steward of the Coast Millennium Trail planning effort, having spent two years in behind-the-scenes discussions with Bellingham, Whatcom County, Ferndale, and the Lummi Nation. Argued that the trail's history on maps for 25 years suggests early landowner conversations occurred. Advocated for reviving and completing the trail plan with Recreation Northwest as the lead nonprofit coordinator. **Daniel Probst (project lead, Bellingham Mount Baker Trail):** Presented detailed evidence that the Beta Baker Trail is 99.9% on public land, with only 100 yards in private hands. Reported coordinating with a land trust and Council Member Frazey to secure 40 acres along Jones Creek. Argued that only 10 miles of new trail are needed to link Bellingham to Mount Baker in a first phase. Re…

**Bennett Knox, on Map 9-2 and conceptual trail alignments:** "Map 9-2 is a zoom out. It's conceptual in nature. It then gives us the basis for some of the implementation actions that we might pursue such as finance. And so when we drill down into the details on that, that's really where it's our CPROS plan that comes into play." **Sonia Max, on the value of keeping trails on the map:** "When a funding opportunity does arise, having those trails on the map is the only way staff can follow thr…

**Before this meeting:** - Map 9-2 showed the Coast Millennium Trail running through BP Cherry Point Refinery's private property, as it has for approximately 25 years - Map 9-2 had not been updated to distinguish constructed trail segments from proposed ones - No formal process existed requiring the Planning Commission's reasoning for document changes to be preserved in the chapter documents forwarded to Council - Chapter 9 had not been forwarded to the County Council **After this meeting:** - The Planning Commission voted (4-1-2) to direct staff to remove the Coast Millennium Trail alignment through BP property from Ma…

--- ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Planning Commission held a hybrid public hearing and work session on July 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at 5280 Northwest Drive, Bellingham. The primary focus was Chapter 9 (Parks & Recreation) of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update, including a public hearing, detailed work session discussion of trail maps and policy, and two procedural votes at the close of the meeting. --- ### Key Terms and Concepts **Comprehensive Plan:** A long-range policy document required by Washington State's Growth Management Act (GMA) that guides land use, housing, transportation, parks, and other planning decisions for a county or city. Whatcom County's last update was completed in 2016; the current update is due in 2025. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington State law (RCW 36.70A) that requires counties and cities of certain size to plan for growth in a coordinated way. It establishes what elements a comprehensive plan must contain and sets timelines for updates. **CPROS Plan (Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan):** Whatcom County Parks & Recreation Department's primary operational planning document, updated separately from the Comprehensive Plan. The 2024 CPROS was a relatively light update; a more robust update is planned for 2026–2028. The CPROS sets levels of service, inventories facilities, and guides capital spending. **Level of Service (LOS):** A standard that defines the minimum amount of a public facility (e.g., park acreage, trail miles, shoreline access) per resident. Whatcom County's current parks LOS standards were developed in the late 1990s and have been adjusted only a few times since. The county currently meets its LOS for developed parks but has a trail deficit of approximately 68 miles. **Map 9-2 (Conceptual Regional Trail Corridor Map):** A map in Chapter 9 showing proposed and constructed trail corridors throughout Whatcom County. All lines on the map are conceptual — they indicate general intent and grant-funding eligibility, not secured easements or constructed routes. **Coast Millennium Trail:** A long-planned, multi-use trail corridor connecting population centers along the western edge of Whatcom County, originally conceived about 25 years ago. A portion of the conceptual route crosses BP Cherry Point Refinery property, which is the subject of ongoing controversy. **Bellingham–Mount Baker Trail (Beta Baker Trail):** A proposed trail corridor connecting Bellingham to Mount Baker. The project lead reports that 99.9% of the route is currently in public land ownership, with only about 100 yards in private hands. Ten miles of new trail construction would be needed to complete the first phase. **HB 1181 (House Bill 1181):** A 2023 Washington State law requiring comprehensive plans to address climate change and resiliency across multiple chapters. Chapter 9 was updated to minimally meet this requirement. **Sidebar Comment / Track Changes:** A notation added directly in the margin of a planning document (as a comment bubble) explaining why a change was made. The Commission voted to require these for all majority-vote changes going forward so that the County Council can understand the reasoning behind each modification. --- ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kelvin Barton | Chair, Whatcom County Planning Commission | | Rud Browne | Commissioner, Whatcom County Planning Commission | | Daniel Dunne | Commissioner, Whatcom County Pla…