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Bellingham council approves vacation of half of 1st Street on 1st and 2nd reading; final reading delayed over easement language
Summary
The Bellingham City Council voted 5-0 (two excused) to approve on first and second reading Ordinance 24940, which vacates the eastern 15 feet of 1st Street adjacent to Block 13 in the Silver Heights neighborhood; council postponed final language on a reserved easement for a stormwater clean-out.
The Bellingham City Council on April 15 approved on first and second reading Ordinance 24940 to vacate the eastern half (15 feet) of 1st Street abutting the western 110 feet of Block 13 in the Silver Heights neighborhood, voting 5-0 with two members excused.
The ordinance was presented by WCA attorney James Erbe, who said all procedural prerequisites had been met, the technical review committee issued a favorable recommendation and the hearing examiner, after a hybrid public hearing on April 15, 2026, recommended approval. "The vacation is in the public interest," Erbe told the council during the presentation.
Why it matters: the petitioner remitted the full fair-market appraised value for the right-of-way on March 13, 2026; the agenda bill lists that appraised value as $44,000. The council's approval on first and second reading advances the petition through the ordinance process but does not complete it: Erbe and staff said a reserved easement is needed to preserve public access to a stormwater clean-out located roughly midway along the subject right-of-way.
During brief council discussion, Council Member Anderson asked whether maintenance of the clean-out would require heavy equipment. Council Member Williams, pointing to the site plan at the dais, said the access need is small — about 3 feet by 5 feet — "just for humans to open up a cap," and that public works had confirmed it was not a manhole requiring vehicle access. Williams also said the property owner had not yet submitted building permit plans and was aware of easement and setback requirements for any future addition.
Council President Stone asked staff to flag coordination between the petitioner and Public Works and to ensure the easement language is resolved before a third and final reading, which staff indicated would be scheduled at a subsequent meeting if the parties agree on the reservation language. Council Member Anderson moved to approve Ordinance 24940; Council Member Williams seconded. Seeing no further discussion, the council voted 5-0, with two members excused.
The hearing examiner's full record and decision are available on the city's hearing examiner case decisions page; council staff said they will return with agreed easement language before the final reading.
