Whatcom County has issued its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the decennial Whatcom County comprehensive plan update and its urban growth area review. The comprehensive plan will outline how the county plans to grow over the next two decades.
The county released the final EIS, which is available on the county’s website, on August 22.
County officials prepared four alternatives when preparing the draft EIS that looked at potential levels of population growth in Whatcom County over the next 20 years. After public review, the county decided to use a population projection that estimates the county will grow by more than 67,600 people from 2023 to 2045, bringing the county’s population to 303,438 residents.
The cities in the county, including Blaine, may use the county’s EIS as they review their comprehensive plan updates.
State law requires the county to create a new climate change and resiliency chapter in its comprehensive plan.
The county and its cities are required to complete their comprehensive plan updates by the end of the year.
The EIS is available at bit.ly/3UZd22U.
