THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED FAIRHAVEN HIGHLANDS DEVELOPMENT

1. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED FAIRHAVEN HIGHLANDS DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON NEIGHBORS

2. DIFFERENT KINDS OF IMPACTS • To many, the loss of this urban forest, the effect destruction of wetlands would have on habitat and salmon streams, is reason enough to oppose the project. • But the many years of construction and its aftermath will also affect the daily lives of those who live, work and attend school in south Bellingham.

3. SUMMARY 1. Taxpayers would subsidize the project’s infrastructure. It would be potentially less costly to save the property. 2. Construction would create air and noise pollution. Health hazards 3. Effect of construction and the completed project on the Interurban Trail 4. Loss of Green Space and Wildlife corridor Habitat and species 6. Destruction of wetlands and Declining salmon population Flooding in existing neighborhoods

4. SUMMARY 7. Increase in traffic volume Crowded roads The 12th Street Bridge Danger to Fairhaven Middle School Students Construction vehicles Obstruction of emergency vehicles 8. This development is not inevitable

5. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO SUBSIDIZE THIS PROJECTby1. paying taxes to support its infrastructure OR 2. enduring many years ofconstruction noise and pollution?

6. IT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY LESS COSTLY TO SAVE THE PROPERTY. • The property is assessed at 2.5 million; the developer purchased it for 14.3 million (according to the Assessor’s website). • It has been estimated that the potential cost to taxpayers for roads, schools, parks and fire protection would be between 15 and 20 million.

7. NOW we have clean air to breathe.

8. LARGE SCALE CONSTRUCTION WOULD CREATE A LARGE ZONE OF POLLUTIONLASTING FOR MANY YEARS. Air pollution from burning and fumes from heavy and large equipment can cause and aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma. Diesel engine exhaust emissions have the potential to cause a wide range of health problems including cancer. Noise pollution from logging, blasting the ridge away, diesel engines, hammering and other construction activities would be loud and unrelenting.

9. The north end of the Interurban Trail would no longer be a peaceful place to walk, jog, run or bicycle during construction. After construction, it would be bordered by buildings and possibly crossed by a road.

10. IF THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD IS DEVELOPED, THE BEAUTIFUL SECOND GROWTH URBAN FOREST THAT SURROUNDS FAIRHAVEN PARK WILL BE GONE FOREVER. Chuckanut Ridge with Fairhaven Park Proposed development (rust- in right foreground colored area) with Fairhaven Park in foreground

11. Any development will destroy the age-old, very alive natural systems.

12. Chuckanut Ridge is a critical keystone habitat and serves as an effective productive wildlife corridor through south Bellingham for all the creatures whose habitats are rapidly being chopped into bits.

13. It has the greatest diversity of amphibians in the city, many species of resident and breeding birds, and red foxand other uncommon medium and small animals.

14. It has fawning areas and species of concern and species of local significance

15. ITS WETLANDS ARE THE BASES OF COMPLEX FOOD CHAINS THAT SUPPORT A DIVERSE POPULATION OF ANIMAL LIFE.

16. DEVELOPMENT WOULD LEAD TO FURTHER DECLINE OF SALMON STOCKS IN PUGET SOUND. With the destruction of the wetlands that sustain them, the salmon of Padden and Chuckanut Creeks would become a threatenedspecies.

17. DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS LEADS TO FLOODING Homes that are down slope from the site already experience drainage problems.At present they are partially protected from flooding by the ridge’s Class One Wetlands which retain run-off.The proposed project would destroy these wetlands by building too close to them. By law, mature forested wetlands must be protected by buffers of at least 150 feet, but plans for this development call for buffers of only 50 feet or less, far to narrow to protect the wetlands from destruction.

18. FAIRHAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS AT THE CROSSROADS OF ALREADY OVERCROWDED ROADS.

19. AFTER CONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC VOLUME WOULD INCREASE BY MORE THAN 45%. Weekday traffic volume now = 11,000+ daily trips across the 12th Street Bridge. (Washington State Department of Transportation Study, May 21-24, 2007) With completion of the proposed development, 739 dwelling units would add an estimated 5000+ more trips per day. Traffic volume would increase by 45% to 16,000+ trips each weekday across the 12th Street Bridge.

20. THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC VOLUME WOULD ENDANGER MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.Weekday AM and PM peak traffic volumes occur at times when Fairhaven Middle School Students are walking to and from school.(Washington Department of Transportation Study, May 21-24, 2007) Currently, AM northbound traffic averages 542 trips across the 12th Street Bridge between 8:00 and 9:00; southbound averages 392 trips, a total of 934 vehicles crossing the bridge at the beginning of the school day. A 45% increase would raise traffic volume to 1,354 vehicles traveling across the Bridge each morning as students walk to school. PM northbound traffic now averages 459 Trips between 3:00 and 4:00; southbound averages 517 trips, a total of 1,036 trips. An increase of 45% would result in 1,416 vehicles crossing the 12thStreet Bridge as students leave school in the afternoon.

21. DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHUCKANUT RIDGE DEVELOPMENT, THE 12TH STREET BRIDGE WOULD BE CALLED UPON TO HANDLE THOUSANDS OF: Logging trucks Excavators Graders Fill trucks Cement trucks Asphalt trucks Building supply trucks Contractor trucks Moving trucks Which would add large and heavy construction vehicle traffic to the bridge as soon as construction began.

22. OBSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES If the 12th Street Bridge is blocked by traffic from the development, middle school students and all persons south will be cut off from medical and fire services.

23. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT INEVITABLE • There are good legal arguments against it, but they will have to be taken to court. • Responsible Development has the best land use lawyer in the state and although we have raised a significant amount, we do not have the funds to take this all the way. • Estimated court costs are in excess of $75,000. • If you would like to help, please contribute to the legal defense fund.

24. HOW TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND Check Donations Can Be Mailed to: Responsible Development PO Box 4057 Bellingham, WA 98227 OR Make a Donation on Line at: www.RDNOW.org/donation.htm