Two Blaine city leaders provided updates on some of the city’s largest projects during a meeting with the Salishan neighborhood at Christ Episcopal Church on January 8.
City manager Mike Harmon started the presentation, which he co-led with Alex Wenger, director of Community Development Services Department, and discussed the city’s priorities for 2025, reopening Yew Avenue, the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) project, a new library and other items of interest.
Yew Avenue: Harmon said Yew Avenue repair designs are in the works over four years after historic flooding closed the roadway in November 2021. Construction will likely begin in 2026.
“With FEMA dollars attached to it, we’re on their timeframe,” Harmon said. “We have to march to their drum.”
Bell Road Grade Separation Project: Blaine City Council will likely vote on a design contract for the Bell Road Grade Separation Project in mid-February. In 2023, the city of Blaine received $9.5 million in federal funding to pay for one-third of design work for the Bell Road Grade Separation Project, which will build an overpass above train tracks near Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive. Harmon said if the federal government fully funds the project, at an $80 million price tag, the project would still be at least eight years away.
VACIS update: When asked by a community member if U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) proposed VACIS project could be a temporary solution before the overpass is built, Harmon said CBP Blaine supports the project but the agency’s resources were being directed to the U.S./Mexico border. Currently, trains travel 5 mph to be inspected near the border, which backs up traffic, including emergency vehicles, at both the Bell Road and Marine Drive train crossings. VACIS would increase the trains to twice the speed.
Downtown revitalization: The city sent out construction bid requests for its downtown revitalization project on January 8, Harmon said. The project, years in the making, will replace some sidewalks downtown to adhere to ADA compliance and upgrade the parklets on Martin and Clark streets.
Library and affordable housing: In late winter or early spring, city staff will request Blaine City Council to strategically plan the projects it would like staff to prioritize over the next few years, with a focus on affordable housing. Council is expected to discuss Madrona Community Development’s proposal that envisions two downtown Blaine buildings with affordable condominiums, a new library, potential childcare and expanded parking. Madrona has taken lead on the project after Kulshan Community Land Trust backed out of it last summer. The project, which still needs significantly more funding, would be in partnership with the city of Blaine and Whatcom County Library System.
Code enforcement: The audience erupted in cheers when Harmon unveiled one of his biggest goals for 2025: hiring a code enforcement officer. Harmon’s second goal was to have the police department fully staffed as it has three open officer positions and only two applicants.
“One-third of the force is vacant outside of sergeants,” he said.
Housing development: City planning staff continues to be busy with large housing projects with some of those projects including Creekside, a luxury manufactured home park in east Blaine; Avista, a housing development formerly called Semiahmoo Highlands that could bring up to 500 units off of Semiahmoo Parkway; and Inverness, a 65-unit development adjacent to the Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club.
Upcoming businesses: New businesses coming to Blaine include Family Care Network, a car wash, O’Reilly Auto Parts and coffee drive-through in and near the IGA Market plaza. Wenger said no developers have approached the city yet about the parking relief or building height increase city council approved last year to incentivize downtown development.
Zoning changes: Wenger said city planning staff would likely bring a proposal for Blaine Planning Commission to consider in February that would add building height limits and housing flexibility in the commercial zoning district, behind the IGA Market, and the residential office zoning district, near Domino’s Pizza.
Public comment and remote council meetings: When asked by an audience member if oral public comment or a remote option would return to Blaine City Council meetings, Harmon said that decision was up to the mayor and council. Councilmember Sonia Hurt added that only a few people have voiced their opinion about those topics. Mayor Mary Lou Steward banned oral comment last February after a small group of people hurled accusations at city councilors and staff during the public comment period of meetings, and the city stopped providing a remote meeting option in mid-November 2023 after a ‘Zoombombing’ incident with racial slurs.
Utility mapping: Harmon said the city was prioritizing updating its utility mapping, sparked by insufficient mapping that doesn’t show all of the high voltage electric lines.
Other city priorities: Harmon said the city’s 25-year-old software is expected to be updated by June, allowing for utility customers to pay bills online and see their energy usage online. The planning department is waiting on Whatcom County Council to approve population and employment growth estimates for the city to continue updating its comprehensive plan, a long-range planning document due by the end of December. The city has also started the water adjudication process after the Washington State Department of Ecology initiated the decades-long process to determine water rights in Whatcom County last year.
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