Bellingham Planning Board Blocks Two Street Acceptances, Splits on Affordable Housing

BELLINGHAM — May 18, 2026 — Bellingham Planning Board recommended passing over two street acceptances and approved a revised affordable housing permit at its May 18 meeting. The board voted unanimously to recommend town meeting pass over the Candlelight Lane street acceptance after peer reviewer TEC identified discrepancies between the as-built plans filed by developer Fafard and conditions found on the ground, including undocumented catch basins, manholes, and a sewer line; the town is seeking replenishment of a 53G review fund estimated at $15,000 to $20,000 to document the issues before the fall warrant opens. A second street acceptance for Dohamel Way was also recommended for pass-over for lack of required legal documents. On inclusionary housing, an initial proposal by Woodland Peak Development LLC owner Ernie Pedreira to place both affordable units in center positions within a 15-unit townhouse project at 1 to 15 Whitman Circle failed three to two, short of the required four-vote supermajority, after member Bill Sullivan argued that a roughly 300-square-foot size difference between middle and end units was material; a revised plan substituting one end unit passed unanimously. Town Administrator Joe Layton warned that if Fafard continues to stonewall, the town's path runs through formal legal action backed by bond documentation, with roughly $220,000 in developer security currently on hold.