Posted: October 16, 2009 2:10:16 PM PDT
(Please note correct public hearing date is Tuesday, October 20)
The City of Bellingham will conduct a public hearing next Tuesday to gather comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Fairhaven Highlands Development. The hearing is in front of Tim Stewart, the City's State Environmental Policy Act Official, and will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 20 in the Whatcom County Council Chambers. The venue was changed to better accomodate the public.
Stewart issued guidelines on how the hearing will be conducted and how the public may comment. At the public hearing, testimony will be heard in order that people sign up - first come, first heard. Staff will be present at 5 p.m. to begin signing in people who wish to speak. Each person will have a three-minute time limit, and may yield their time to another speaker, but must be present in order to yield their time.
Written coments and verbal testimony have the same weight and will be considered equally in the formation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The maximum allowable 45-day comment period on the DEIS expires at 5 p.m. November 12.
The public hearing will be filmed and aired on BTV10 within a week following the hearing, and a court reporter will prepare a verbatim transcript of the proceedings.
For additional information, see the project website at http://www.cob.org/issues/fairhaven-highlands.aspx.
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Media Contact:
Nicole Oliver, Communication Coordinator
Planning & Community Development Department
360-778-8353
noliver@cob.org
