Fairhaven Highlands — Bellingham, WA
Fairhaven Highlands is a low to mid-rise 739-unit master planned community on an 82 acre infill site. Through efficient land planning that worked in conjunction with the site’s features and with modest tweaks to the building program, Weber Thompson was able to preserve an additional 20 acres of land, for a total of 40 preserved acres, and reduce building heights from 8-10 floors to 3-5 floors over previous site proposals. The compactness of the plan reduced infrastructure costs – both environmental and monetary – and the reduced building height allows for a less expensive construction type. Low impact storm water strategies, such as rain gardens, preserves the site hydrology and water quality.
Download the Fairhaven Highlands Case Study.
Proposed rain gardens and bioswales to naturally slow and clean post-development storm runoff; maintains pre-development hydrology and water quality of wetlands that feed off-site water bodies.
Planned development on areas that will have the least environmental impact.
Proposed nearly 50% of site as a preserved natural area – minimizes impacts of site clearing and re-grading and maintains on-site habitat.
Designed a land use mix of mostly low rise multifamily, with parking under structures – efficiently uses land and minimizes road and utility infrastructure.
Proposed pervious pavement on parking strips and alley to reduce stormwater run-off.