Bellingham Conservation Commission Continues Red Mill Hearings, Opens Three New Lots

BELLINGHAM -- April 23, 2026, Bellingham Conservation Commission continued Red Mill subdivision wetlands hearings and opened three new lot reviews at its April 23 meeting. The commission, with member Nicole abstaining on one vote, continued order-of-conditions amendment hearings for lots 8 through 14 of the Red Mill development on Charles, Mechanic and Mill streets to May 13, then opened and immediately continued notices of intent for lots 20, 21 and 67 to the same date after developer representative Brian Madden of LBC Environmental and Toll Brothers development director Ted Merchant presented drainage and riverfront-impact details for each lot; a stormwater peer review for the broader subdivision amendment remained unreleased as of the meeting. The commission also placed a Lake Street tree-replacement enforcement matter on the May 13 agenda and continued an enforcement informational hearing for 43 Easy Street, where property owners admitted unpermitted clearing of shrubby vegetation along a wetland stream bank and acknowledged keeping chicken coops near a forested wetland, to June 10, directing the owners to develop a native planting plan with the commission's arborist before that date. The commission also discussed drafting written policies for submission deadlines and beaver dam intervention procedures, with Conservation Administrator Hannah to prepare drafts for town counsel review.