BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Birchwood neighborhood in Bellingham could get a new grocery store soon following a recent investigation.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Tuesday, June 25, that Albertsons has removed land use restrictions that he says created a food desert in the area. The announcement comes following an investigation into land restrictions causing food deserts.

The restrictions barred a new grocery store from going into its former location in Birchwood. As a result, the city banned those types of restrictions but couldn’t apply it retroactively.

Ferguson says the move ensured that the closest alternative for Birchwood residents was the Haggen on Meridian, which Albertsons owns.

Besides dropping the restrictions, the company must also pay $25,000 to offset the costs of the investigation.