STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE ADOPTION OF EXISTING DOCUMENT BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 Community Transitions Facility Date of Issuance: September 15, 2025 Description of Current Proposal: The proposed action seeks approval from the City of Bellingham to construct a temporary parking lot to support the development of the planned Community Transitions (CT) Facility. This temporary lot, containing 56 parking stalls, will accommodate student residents from Whatcom Community College (WCC) during the construction period. The temporary parking area will have limited grading with approximately 362 cubic yards of export and approximately 362 cubic yards of 6" gravel base. Lighting will be provided for the parking lot. The lot will be removed after CT facility construction. The CT Facility is a Special Education program in Bellingham Public Schools, serving students up to the age of 22. The program offers a range of services designed to equip students with mild to severe disabilities. The facility will be approximately 25,000 square feet with site development including parking facilities, delivery service areas, landscaping, and exterior lighting. Proponent: Bellingham School District No. 501 Location of Current Proposal: The District has secured a long-term lease of approximately 0.6 acres from WCC, to construct the new CT Facility. The site is located on the WCC campus, at the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Calluna Court and Cordata Parkway, across from the Whatcom Transit Authority Cordata Station. The property is within the city limits of Bellingham, Washington, within Whatcom County in the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 38N, Range 02E, WM. Whatcom County Assessor identifies the parcel as #380212426126 (0.60 acres) and formerly addressed as 322 Calluna Court. The temporary parking lot will utilize portions of three parcels (3802124641550000, 3802124921820000, 3802124981440000). Title of Document Being Adopted: Determination of Non-Significance, Bellingham School District No. 501, Community Transitions Facility, and Environmental Checklist, issued October 17, 2024. Agency that Prepared Document Being Adopted: Bellingham School District No. 501 Date Adopted Document was Prepared: October 17, 2024 Description of Document (or Portion) Being Adopted: The original Environmental Checklist and DNS are the documents being adopted. These documents described the proposed action, which included the approval of a Critical Areas Permit, and building/public works permits from the City of Bellingham to allow construction of the new CT Facility. This facility is a Special Education program in Bellingham Public Schools, serving students up to the age of 22. CT offers a range of services designed to equip students with mild to severe disabilities for successful transitions to independent living, employment, and/or further education. The facility will be approximately 25,000 square feet with site development including parking facilities, delivery service areas, landscaping, and exterior lighting. The site contains two wetlands (one on-site and one adjacent) that will be filled as part of the project. The project proposes compensation and approval for impacts in the form of bank credit purchase from the Lummi Nation Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank. The Document is Available to be Read at: Bellingham School District, Capital Projects Department, 1985 Barkley Boulevard, Bellingham. Bellingham School District No. 501, Lead Agency: The lead agency for this proposal has identified and adopted this document as being appropriate for this proposal after independent review. The document(s) meet(s) our environmental review needs for the current proposal and will accompany the proposal to the decision maker(s). We have determined that this proposal will not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This determination is based on the following findings and conclusions: The proposed parking lot is a temporary solution designed to accommodate WCC student residents during the construction of the CT Facility. Minimal grading is required for the 56-stall lot, which will offer safe and secure parking throughout the construction period. Once construction is complete, the parking lot, as well as any lighting, will be removed or relocated, as necessary. This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency. This information is available to the public upon request. It is the policy of the Bellingham School District (District) that, when undertaking an action involving the exercise of substantive SEPA authority, the District shall consider, as appropriate under the circumstances, the ramifications of such action as to one or more of the factors listed in Bellingham School District Policy, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Compliance 6890, C. Substantive Authority and Appeals. This Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) is issued under WAC 197-11-340(2). The lead agency will not act on this proposal for 14 days from the published date below. Comments must be submitted by September 29, 2025 to the Responsible Official as named below. Name of Agency Adopting Document: Bellingham School District #501 Responsible Official: Curtis Lawyer Title: Capital Projects Director Address: Bellingham School District #501 1985 Barkley Boulevard Bellingham, Washington 98226 Email: Curtis.Lawyer@bellinghamschools.org Phone: (360) 676-6531 Published/Issued: September 15, 2025 There is no administrative appeal process for this determination. IPL0272925 Sep 15 2025