Barkley Village Critical Area Assessment & Mitigation Plan

Understanding local ecology and integrating ecological restoration and green infrastructure helps a sustainable urban village expand while honoring its commitment to conservation.

Nested between Mt. Baker National Forest and Bellingham Bay, Barkley Village is envisioned as a thoughtful alternative to typical city neighborhoods. With a large percentage of its property allocated to conservation, the urban village will offer residential, retail, office, civic, and open spaces for tenants and residents who share a commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and community. The Barkley Company sought expand Barkley Village into undeveloped land on its 250-acre property according to the principles of “One Planet Living,” an international framework for communities seeking happy, healthy living within the limits of the planet. The developer wants to protect the local ecology, which includes freshwater forested/shrub and freshwater emergent wetlands.

Biohabitats began by assessing site habitat and ecology and delineating and performing functional assessments of 44 wetlands. A Mitigation Plan was prepared to avoid impacts wherever possible and to minimize and compensate for any unavoidable impacts by integrating green infrastructure and ecosystem enhancement and restoration into the expansion. Mitigation strategies — including restoring a stream degraded by runoff and expanding and improving the condition of several wetland areas — enhance habitat connectivity and water quality well beyond the boundaries of the site. Biohabitats then worked with the integrated design team to update the Master Plan. Next steps will develop a Landscape Management plan and Adaptive Management Program to guide Barkley Village’s future environmental stewardship.

TAGS

• Analysis+Planning
• Assessment+Monitoring
• Ecological Restoration