About Us

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Contact, steering committee, our role and history

WHO WE ARE

Futurewise Whatcom

is the local chapter of statewide land-use advocacy organization, Futurewise, and works to promote healthy communities and cities while protecting working farms, working forests, and shorelines today and for future generations.

CONTACT US

Chapter Director

Cathy Lehman
p: 360-543-0056
o: 1155 N. State Street #310, Bellingham
m: PO Box 1517 Bellingham, WA 98227

Local Steering Committee

Jean Melious (President)
Ramona Abbott (Vice-President)
Todd Donovan (Secretary)
Kane Hall (Treasurer)
Vanessa Blackburn
Jim Hansen
Wendy Harris
Dan McShane


Futurewise Whatcom Receives Major Grant!

Futurewise was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Whatcom Community Foundation to enable the Urban Livability program work of their Whatcom County Chapter in 2011. The support is from the Foundation's 'Well Whatcom Fund' for healthy community environments in the priority areas of Built Environment and Policy Work.
Futurewise Whatcom's Urban Livability program will use the grant to participate in the City of Bellingham's 10 year City Center Master Plan Update and Whatcom County Health Department's Complete Streets policy initiative, both to create more compact, livable, and vital urban areas that are accessible by bike, foot and transit.
Whatcom Community Foundation is a nonprofit, publicly-supported philanthropic institution whose mission is enhancing philanthropy to strengthen Whatcom County by linking people who care with causes that matter.

BACKGROUND & HISTORY

Washington State adopted its Growth Management Act (GMA) in 1990 to manage statewide development pressures in response to rapid growth.  The state Legislature had found that “uncoordinated and unplanned growth, together with a lack of common goals… pose a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development, and the health, safety, and high quality of life enjoyed by residents of this state.”

Unlike similar acts in Oregon and Florida, Washington’s GMA presumes that county comprehensive land use plans are valid upon adoption by the county government.  Private persons or organizations are charged with the task of examining plans and appealing to the State if they appear to violate the Act.  Futurewise acts on behalf of the citizens of Washington State to ensure land use policy is in compliance with the values of the Growth Management Act (GMA).

In Whatcom County, a small group of citizens began meeting in February 2007 to discuss ways to improve local land use planning efforts. Early organizers included Rick Dubrow, Robyn du Pre, Lincoln and Patti Rutter, Tris Shirley, Lynnea Flarry, Eric Hirst, and Dan Warner. This diverse group was made up of long-time residents and newcomers to Whatcom County, former leaders of Pro-Whatcom, and a board member of Futurewise. They decided to approach Futurewise about affiliation as a chapter – a new concept for the state organization headquartered in Seattle – and following a meeting with the Executive Director and Field Director of Futurewise in April 2007, officially formed a local chapter called Futurewise

Futurewise Whatcom remains the only chapter where Futurewise has launched a local agenda supported by local fundraising!



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Breaking News
Whatcom County required to improve protections for drinking water and rural Whatcom County

On January 9, 2012, the Growth Management Hearings Board issued a 177 page opinion concluding that Whatcom County’s updated comprehensive plan policies and development regulations for the rural area failed to meet the minimum standards in the Growth Management Act. The appeal was brought by Futurewise, the City of Bellingham, and concerned community residents in response to a developer that wanted to build an intense urban style development at Governors Point on Puget Sound.

Jan 30, 2012
December Futurewire Now Online!

Our December electronic newsletter can now be found online. Read how we ended the year and what we're doing to gear up for 2012.

Dec 30, 2011
Futurewise achieves big legal wins in 2011

In 2011, Futurewise won cases in every forum from the Growth Management Hearings Board to the Washington State Supreme Court. One of Futurewise’s wins was even appealed to the United States Supreme Court, but as of the end of 2011, the Supreme Court had not decided to review the decision. Futurewise won 82 percent of the substantive decisions in which we participated in 2011.

Dec 26, 2011
Huge Victory for Spokane!

For over three years, Futurewise worked with the City of Spokane to create an effective Complete Street Policy, writing the policy, educating the community and policy makers, and building a wide coalition of supporters from health care workers, unions, educators, and local businesses. Last week, the City of Spokane adopted the Complete Street Policy by a vote of 5-2.

Dec 28, 2011
Futurewise, Stevens County negotiate deal to protect lynx, other habitat

Stevens County had been refusing to adopt common sense protections for the lynx and other habitats shown as polygons on Washington State Fish and Wildlife GIS databases for five years.

Dec 26, 2011
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