Whatcom County is preparing a Comprehensive Plan Update in accordance with the Growth Management Act (GMA). Whatcom County is required to complete its review and update of the Comprehensive Plan elements, development regulations, and Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) by December 31, 2025. As part of the Comprehensive Plan Update, the County and cities of Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas are undertaking a process to allocate population, housing, and employment growth to UGAs and Rural and Resource Lands in the County for the planning period (2023-2045). 

The County prepared a Draft EIS that studied four alternatives at a programmatic level, illustrating different growth strategies. After consideration of the DEIS assessment, public and agency comments, and further coordination with the affected jurisdictions, the County has chosen a Preferred Alternative.

The Preferred Alternative uses a population projection (303,438 total County population in 2045) and allocations to each UGA and the area outside the UGAs developed by the cities and County.  This represents population growth of 67,638 between 2023-2045.

As a result of the Comprehensive Plan Update, the County is considering amendments to County Comprehensive Plan goals and policies, UGA boundaries, and associated maps. As required by the GMA, the County will formulate a new climate change and resiliency chapter in the Comprehensive Plan. Development regulations may also be amended. The seven cities in Whatcom County will also consider amendments to their own plans and regulations and may use this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a basis for their respective reviews as allowed under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).   

Date of Issuance

August 22, 2025

Final EIS Availability

The Final EIS is available for download from the County’s website at www.whatcomcounty.us/4219/Environmental-Impact-Statement.