STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE AND ADOPTION OF EXISTING DOCUMENT BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 Sehome High School Replacement Date of Issuance: December 19, 2025 Description of Current Proposal: The proposed action seeks approval from the City of Bellingham to construct a new parking lot to support the Sehome High School Redevelopment project. The site layout includes access for public, student and staff parking that would include approximately 461 spaces as well as a parent drop-off and pick-up area off Bill McDonald Parkway. Separate bus access would also occur off the parkway. This separation improves on-site circulation and pedestrian safety during the school's peak hours. The bus loop may be striped for up to 50 overflow parking spaces as well. Portions of existing parking spaces in lots at the east and west ends of the site would be retained and are included in the total parking count above. The additional parking area was not addressed in the 2016 environmental review and would add 12 more stalls than the 449 stalls in the 2016 document. Additional site work for parking lot construction would occur in Spring 2026. The parking area will have limited grading. Proposed grading for the entire construction includes approximately 140,000 cubic yards (CYs) of import material and approximately 39,000 CYs of export (net 101,000 CY cut). This project was reviewed, and a SEPA determination was made in 2016. Proponent: Bellingham School District No. 501 Location of Current Proposal: Sehome High School campus is located at 2700 Bill McDonald Parkway, Bellingham. The project site is comprised of a single tax parcel, which is 40.5± acres in size. The new parking lot is located to the north of the school building. The geographic parcel number for the developed parcel is #3703061703910000 (Property ID 22286). The parcel is located within the northwest-quarter of Section 6 of Township 37 North, Range 3 East, W.M., within the city limits of Bellingham, in Whatcom County, Washington. Sehome High School is within an area the City designates as the Happy Valley Neighborhood. Title of Document Being Adopted: Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance, Bellingham School District No. 501, Sehome High School Replacement and Environmental Checklist, issued November 14, 2016 Agency that Prepared Document Being Adopted: Bellingham School District No. 501 Date Adopted Document was Prepared: November 14, 2016 Description of Document (or Portion) Being Adopted: The original environmental checklist and MDNS described the proposed action which included the approval to replace the existing Sehome High School by constructing a new two-story school building (approximately 187,800 square feet). The project will include the approval of the demolition of the existing high school and on-site replacement. Sehome High School Replacement will have a 1,200-student capacity. The new building will house classrooms, science labs, manufacturing robotics, visual arts, performing arts spaces, a library, a commons/cafeteria, life fitness and health/gymnasium, music rooms, administrative offices, support spaces, kitchen and mechanical spaces along with ancillary spaces. The new high school will be constructed in two main phases: with a building phase and an existing building demolition/site development phase. In addition to the new school building, the District plans to develop sport courts and fields. These include an eight-lane track, football field, soccer field, baseball field, a softball field and six tennis courts. The existing baseball field will be renovated in place, and the track and football field will be replaced in roughly the same location that they currently occupy. A new softball field, soccer field, and tennis courts will also be built on the northern end of the property. The football field will be synthetic turf with a rubberized track. Likewise, the baseball field would be upgraded from grass to synthetic turf. The other proposed athletic fields will be finished with natural grass; however, these fields may be upgraded to synthetic at some point in the future to align with the District's current standards. 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: With the current request by the District to increase parking on-site to 461 spaces, that is only 12 more spaces than the 449 spaces discussed in the 2016 SEPA Environmental Checklist. The additional 12 parking spaces and associated grading do not have a significant impact on the environment. 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 January 2, 2026 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: December 19, 2025 There is no administrative appeal process for this determination IPL0300201 Dec 19 2025