New 9,134 SF Medical Facility Proposed for Bellingham’s Cordata Neighborhood

BELLINGHAM, WA – A new medical facility is in the works for Bellingham’s Cordata neighborhood, with plans currently under review by the city’s Planning and Community Development Department. The proposed First Rain Therapeutic Center will be a 9,134-square-foot commercial medical building located at 351 W. Horton Road and will include off-street parking, landscaping, and trail improvements.

The applicant, Lexie Costic of RMC Architects, submitted the design review application on behalf of First Rain Real Estate LLC, the project’s owner. The application was filed on December 10, 2024, and is currently in the review process under Project #DR2024-0034. The property is situated in Area 10 of the Cordata Planned Unit Development, an area zoned for industrial and planned/light commercial uses.

Project Details and Environmental Review

The project, approximately 10,000 square feet in size, will include necessary wetland mitigation measures to address buffer impacts. Specifically, the proposal seeks approval to reduce the eastern 150-foot wetland buffer by 25%, impacting approximately 9,940 square feet of buffer area. To compensate, the developers plan to implement on-site wetland mitigation enhancements covering around 10,000 square feet.

The city expects to issue a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for the project following an environmental review under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 197-11-355). This determination indicates that no significant adverse environmental impacts are anticipated. Supporting environmental documents include:

• Stormwater Site Plan (Freeland and Associates, June 2020)
• SEPA Checklist (January 16, 2025)
• Critical Areas Report & Mitigation Plan (NW Ecological Services, December 24, 2024)

Public Comment Period and Next Steps

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to review the application documents and submit written comments by 5:00 p.m. on February 5, 2025. The final decision on the proposal may be appealed under the Bellingham Municipal Code 21.10.250.

For more details, documents can be accessed at City of Bellingham Notices. Written comments and information requests can be directed to Moshe Quinn, Planner, at [email protected] or 360-778-8354.

Looking Ahead

Pending approval, the project will require additional construction and building permits before moving forward. If approved, the First Rain Therapeutic Center will provide expanded medical services in the growing Cordata neighborhood, contributing to Bellingham’s healthcare infrastructure.

Stay tuned to Bellingham Metro News for updates on this and other local developments.