BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The landscape of the historic Fairhaven neighborhood will continue to evolve with prospective new buildings in the future.

The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously at their meeting on Monday, June 3, to increase the maximum height for buildings at a site known as “The Pit.”

Located near 11th and Mill Streets, The Pit is currently being used as a free parking area and is zoned in an area that allows for a maximum three-story building. But Dominion Sustainable Development Corporation, which is in the process of buying The Pit, requested it to be rezoned to accommodate at least one four story building.

The council also voted to approve the development agreement with Dominion, which includes a set of public benefits.

Dominion will create at least 80 public parking stalls at The Pit in addition to the required spaces for residents and will make sure that least 20% of the 200 housing units it plans to build will be affordable for 12 years. The company will also provide a permanent easement to the city to maintain the existing South Bay Trail across the property, along with a dedicated public overlook for residents whose view of the bay may be blocked by the new buildings.

The decision followed nearly an hour of public comment where many Fairhaven residents expressed their concerns for the development.

Fairhaven Gardens Association President Joan Pickens lives across from The Pit and said the buildings would disrupt the environment she has grown used to.

“I moved there because it’s so beautiful and peaceful… it’s not the view, it’s just the area,” Pickens said at the meeting. “To build a tall building in front of our building is not fair to us, it’s taking away from us.”

But project architect David Christensen, who helped design Village Books and Fairhaven Gardens itself, pushed back on the concerns.

“The former mayor of Milwaukee said all new buildings should pass the ‘picture-postcard test’…  placemaking, as they call it, a big, full block building with existing zoning heights would not do that,” Christensen said. “We’re looking at this project to maintain the unique Fairhaven character for everyone.”

Submit your opinion on the prospective new developments in Fairhaven to news@MyBellinghamNow.com.