2025 Comprehensive Plan Update
The State of Washington requires cities, who plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA), to regularly update their comprehensive plans and development regulations. This process is called a “periodic update” process and each jurisdiction is required to complete these updates every ten (10) years. This process ensures that the City’s comprehensive plan is coordinated with state laws and that we are implementing the Growth Management Act consistent with other cities in the state. The City of Ferndale is currently within a periodic update process and is expected to adopt revisions to the comprehensive plan and development code by December of 2025.
Do you have a public comment, or want to be added to Comp Plan Update email list? Click here.
Public Engagement
Comp Plan Update Meeting: The City of Ferndale Community Development Department invites you to a discussion focused on updates to Site Plan Reviews (FMC 15.14) and the Utilities Element of the Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 5). These changes are part of the City’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and we want to engage with the public during each step in the process. The meeting will be held remotely on February 19th at 5:30pm via Microsoft Teams. Click here to join.
WWU Partnership: The City of Ferndale has partnered with Western Washington University’s Urban Planning Studio to engage with the community for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. Check back for future events or other ways to engage.
Grandview Economic Opportunity Study: The City of Ferndale, in partnership with the Port of Bellingham, is conducting a study to assess the economic benefits to utility ratepayers for funding utility improvements in the Grandview Area. The goal of the City of Ferndale and the Port of Bellingham is to encourage development that will bring the greatest economic benefits to Ferndale and Whatcom County.
Continue to check back for future meetings and other ways to engage.
- City/County Elected Officials Meeting – Growth Management Coordination (December 4, 2024).
- Whatcom County Planning Commission (November 14, 2024): Population and Employment Projections.
- City of Ferndale Meeting (November 14, 2024): Critical Areas and Application Procedures.
- City of Ferndale Council Meeting (October 21, 2024): 2025 Transportation Element Kickoff – Transpo Group. This discussion begins at 00:03:58.
- City of Ferndale Planning Commission (October 16, 2024): Transportation Element (Transpo Presentation). This discussion begins at 0:26:35.
- City/County Elected Officials Meeting – Growth Management Coordination (September 11, 2024).
- Workshop for Elected Officials – Growth Management Coordination (August 29, 2024)
- City of Ferndale Council Meeting (July 15, 2024): 2025 Comprehensive Plan Overview – Part 2. This discussion begins at 0:30:11.
- City of Ferndale Council Meeting (June 17, 2024): 2025 Comprehensive Plan Overview – Part 1. This discussion begins at 0:48:47.
- City of Ferndale Council Meeting (May 20, 2024): Comprehensive Plan Population Projections. This discussion begins at 1:40:20.
- Whatcom County Planning Commission Meeting (May 9, 2024): Public Participation Plan, and Population and Employment Projections and Allocations. The discussion begins at 0:11:05.
- City of Ferndale Council Meeting (May 6, 2024): Public Participation Plan. This discussion begins at 2:06:31.
Comment – Olson 02/19/2025
Comment – Eggers (Reply to Nelle Comment Maps Attachment) 02/16/2025
Comment – Eggers (Reply to Nelle Comment) 02/16/2025
Comment – Nelle (Comment Correction) 02/17/2025
Comment – Nelle 02/16/2025
Comment – Whatcom Environmental Council 11/14/2024
Comment – Taysi 11/12/2024
Comment – Burwell 09/23/2024
Comment – Burwell 09/16/2024
Comment – WDFW 08/23/2024
Comment – Puget Sound Partnership 08/20/2024
Comment – DNR 07/02/2024
Comment – Dahlquist 05/21/2024
Comment – Dahlquist 04/19/2024
2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update
Introduction
Land Use
- Land Capacity Analysis
Housing
- Population and Housing Allocations/Housing Element
Transportation
- Transportation Analysis
Utilities – DRAFT (February 12, 2024)
Capital Facilities
- Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan
Climate Change and Resiliency
This is a new required element for comprehensive plans and new goal of the Growth Management Act (HB 1181). Designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plan for resiliency and support environmental justice. Climate elements must maximize economic, environmental and social co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice in order to avoid worsening environmental health disparities.
2025 Development Regulations Update
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – DRAFT (February 12, 2024)
- Site Plan Review (FMC .14) – DRAFT (February 12, 2024)
- Application Procedures (FMC 14.07) – DRAFT
- Critical Areas (FMC 16.08) – DRAFT
Find more information about the update on the Whatcom County website.