BELLINGHAM, WA — After months without public updates, new documents confirm that Dutch Bros Coffee is moving forward again with plans to open in Bellingham. According to records obtained by Bellingham Metro News, a new pre-application was filed with the City of Bellingham this month for a proposed drive-thru location on Cordata Parkway, signaling that the project is still active.
Bellingham Metro News has been following this story since the beginning of the year, when early development filings first appeared for a Dutch Bros site along Bakerview Road. The outlet was the first to break that story in early 2025 and has consistently reported on the project since, along with other major restaurant developments such as Texas Roadhouse and Chick-fil-A. For months, there were no new documents or visible progress, leading many to assume the project might have stalled due to the regulatory challenges identified by the city. But recent filings show new momentum, as Dutch Bros and its development partners appear to be pursuing a different site configuration under the city’s planning process.
New Application and Location Details
The latest filing, submitted under Project #PRE2025-0108, lists Rutuja Dhuru of Cole Valley Partners, LLC as the project applicant and Bellingham Crossroads LLC as the property owner. The proposed site is located at 4015 Cordata Parkway, just north of Bakerview Road and east of Bellis Fair Parkway.
Plans call for a 986-square-foot coffee stand with a dual-lane drive-thru capable of handling up to 20 vehicles, along with 12 parking spaces, an outdoor patio, and a pickup window for walk-up customers. The shop would have no indoor seating and would follow Dutch Bros’ newer-style model designed for high-volume drive-thru traffic.
A pre-application conference was held with the city on October 28, 2025, to review preliminary plans and discuss requirements before a formal land-use or building permit submission.
Zoning, Binding Site Plan, and City Conditions
City Planner Sara Ullman is listed as the project’s lead reviewer. The property is part of Area 9 of the Meridian Neighborhood, zoned Planned Commercial, which allows for restaurants and beverage service establishments. The site also falls under a General Binding Site Plan (GBSP) recorded under AF #1991201945. Eating and drinking establishments are permitted under this plan, but the developer will need to apply for a Specific Binding Site Plan (SBSP) to subdivide the parcel and legally create the lot where the coffee shop would be located.
Once the SBSP is approved, the applicant will be required to submit for Commercial Design Review, which will evaluate the building’s layout, landscaping, drive-thru orientation, and pedestrian access to ensure compliance with city design standards.
Design, Landscaping, and Pedestrian Connectivity
City staff have states the importance of landscaping, screening, and pedestrian safety for this project. The site contains several mature trees that must be identified in a detailed tree-retention plan under the Emergency Landmark Tree Ordinance. The ordinance requires the preservation of all significant trees over six inches in diameter unless removal is unavoidable, and any trees within the public right-of-way may only be removed with a Street Tree Permit.
The city also requires visible improvements to soften the look of parking and drive-thru lanes. Landscaping buffers will be mandatory along the site’s perimeter and within the parking area. Planning staff referenced the Taco Time location on Arctic Avenue as an example of how visual screening can be used effectively for drive-thru businesses.
Pedestrian connections will also play an important role. The project must include a sidewalk along Cordata Parkway, a crosswalk connecting to the northern property, and a pathway linking the building entrance to the public sidewalk and nearby trail corridor. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has requested that the developer continue the existing multiuse trail along the west side of the property to maintain public access through the Cordata area.
Utilities, Fire Flow, and Public Works Review
The Public Works Department determined that Cordata Parkway already meets standards for access and utilities. A five-foot sidewalk and curb ramp will be required at the Bellis Fair intersection. Street trees must be planted along the property’s frontage at a rate of one tree every 50 feet.
Fire department records show that the site meets access requirements, with a required fire flow of 1,500 gallons per minute at 20 psi, which the existing water main can provide. No additional hydrants are needed for this development.
Stormwater management will be reviewed later in the permitting process. The city has directed the applicant to submit a stormwater site plan and off-site analysis following the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington to ensure proper runoff control and drainage capacity.
Transportation and Impact Fees
Transportation officials have estimated a Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) of approximately $1,051.97 for the Dutch Bros proposal, based on its 986-square-foot footprint and expected trip generation. Developers must also enter into a Public Facilities Construction Agreement (PFC) for public improvements such as sidewalks or utility connections before or during the building permit stage. (This could obviously change)
Environmental and SEPA Review
The Planning Department has confirmed that a Critical Areas Permit will not be required since wetlands identified west of the site are outside the project area. A State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review is also not needed because a prior SEPA determination was completed under the 1999 Binding Site Plan for the parent parcel.
From Early Reports to New Activity
When Bellingham Metro News first reported on the Dutch Bros project in early 2025, plans were focused on a different parcel at 451 W. Bakerview Road and 455 W Bakerview Rd, which faced multiple zoning complications, including an eight-acre minimum development threshold. That version of the project never advanced to the application stage, leading to speculation that Dutch Bros had paused its plans, BMN
For months, there were no new filings or land-use activity. However, the appearance of this new pre-application in October 2025 confirms that the company and its development team have remained active behind the scenes and are now pursuing a more viable site.
City staff will continue reviewing the proposal through the remainder of the year before any formal permits can be issued.
All information in this report was obtained through official City of Bellingham planning and public works records, including Project #PRE2025-0108, AF #1991201945, and related planning documents.
Bellingham Metro News has reported on this project since its earliest filings and was the first outlet to cover Dutch Bros’ Bellingham expansion efforts. BMN remains an independent local news organization and is not compensated by any company, agency, or individual mentioned in this report.
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