Whatcom County Land Policy Changes Could Affect Property/Land Use Decisions

Whatcom County is in the final stages of updating its Comprehensive Plan — the 20-year planning document required under Washington’s Growth Management Act that helps guide future decisions on land use, housing, public lands, permitting, resource lands, infrastructure, and economic development.

Most residents are not following every detail of this process, but several recently approved amendments deserve more public attention before final adoption of the Comprehensive Plan by our county councilmembers.

Future 42 is partnering with local business and community leaders asking the Whatcom County Council for additional review and a clear, structured process to propose amendments before the plan is finalized.

We appreciate that some councilmembers have stated their intent to remove direct references to “Land Back,” a term generally used to describe the return, transfer, or increased tribal stewardship of land, as well as the Council’s amendment to remove the term “unceded” from the proposed land acknowledgment.  However, concerns remain that several amendments across multiple chapters may still carry related concepts involving land transfer, co-management, expanded tribal engagement, or additional review requirements. These remaining policy concepts deserve more clarity, public review, and input before final adoption.

State law already allows for government cooperation on land management, including co-management between counties and federally recognized tribes. The concern is not with respectful government-to-government collaboration with tribal nations. That relationship matters and should continue as well as treaty rights and the importance of working together on shared issues like fisheries, habitat, water, and environmental stewardship.

The concern is that broad land policy language with long-term consequences should not be adopted without clear public understanding, legal review, and meaningful input from those responsible for implementing or affected by the policy. Before adopting major policy direction, the County Council should consult with county staff who manage impacted programs, tribal councils, the county prosecutor, and professionals in affected industries, including agriculture, forestry, housing, land use, permitting, and economic development.

Action needed: Please email the Whatcom County Council today and ask them to remove or pause broad land policy language related to land transfer, co-management, expanded tribal engagement, or additional review requirements from the current Comprehensive Plan document.

If the majority of the Council believes this policy direction should be considered, it should be brought back next year through the annual docket process as its own item, with clear language, legal review, tribal consultation, professional input, and robust public discussion.

The people of Whatcom County deserve clarity before adoption.

Upcoming meeting date:
May 12
• 2:00 PM — Committee of the Whole: Comprehensive Plan discussion
• 6:00 PM — Regular County Council Meeting: Public comment opportunity (in-person or virtual)
How to participate: [https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3415/Participate-in-Council-Meetings]
County Council email: council@co.whatcom.wa.us