Ferndale · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ferndale public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Data center moratorium extension
The city hit pause on any data center applications while staff writes rules for a land use the zoning ordinance doesn't currently address. That means potential infrastructure, environmental, and neighborhood impacts get studied before any project could be approved.
Immigration detention facility moratorium extension
Draft rules would define where immigration detention facilities could locate in Ferndale, and commissioners raised concerns about what conditions at holding locations would look like. The moratorium expires September 9 and must be extended while the work wraps up.
Charter Amendment: Council Resignation to Run for Mayor
Right now, a council member has to resign their seat before running for mayor, triggering appointment musical chairs. The amendment going to the November 3 ballot would end that requirement, but questions remain about how the resulting vacancy rules should work.
Zoning ordinance implementation review
As part of the 2026 goals, staff plan to report back on how the new zoning ordinance has affected development, including projects now approved administratively that once went before the commission, with a possible report in the coming months.
Iron Ridge District restaurant rezoning
The former Walker Wire building gets a new life as Paper Sun's Chinese-American barbecue through a conditional rezoning, part of the Iron Ridge District's ongoing evolution from industrial to mixed use.