The Editor:
The west Blaine Urban Growth Area (UGA) is a poor proposal for three main reasons: Distance from Blaine central, underrated infrastructural needs and environmental impacts.
First and foremost, the proposed expansion site does little to benefit Blaine businesses. Residents there would need about 15 minutes to reach the waterfront or Grant Avenue business districts even without traffic, and delays will increase as traffic grows or trains pass. Given the distance, those may easily opt to seek services from Ferndale or Bellingham instead. A UGA expansion should be designed to support local businesses, but the west UGA proposal falls short of this goal.
Infrastructure: Accessing west UGA across the harbor involves navigating narrow bridges over two rivers and a slow railroad crossing, leading to frequent traffic congestion that backs up clear to Drayton Harbor Road. The existing roads, especially Drayton Harbor Road, are dangerously narrow, with a long-standing single-lane washout still unrepaired. Increased traffic is ill-advised for the area. Sewer and water service are limited, and actual costs to support the expansion are likely much higher than reported estimates suggest.
The Semiahmoo area supports abundant wildlife, and the golf resort community implements measures to promote it. Converting hundreds of acres of fields and woods into dense housing would disrupt the environmental habitat.
In addition, the Semiahmoo Drive hillside, regulated for storm water management to prevent landslides, requires strict runoff control; urban development here would demand careful planning for storm water absorption.
The west UGA proposal appears to be a land grab aimed at increasing tax revenue to address Blaine’s financial challenges. Instead of prioritizing tax gains from new residents – who may shop elsewhere and a plan that requires extremely costly infrastructure – the focus should shift to a UGA that supports downtown development and expansion.
My hope is that the Whatcom County Council will reject the allowance of this reckless repurposing of land use.
Doug Clark
Blaine
The Editor:
I look forward to serving with our new combination of Blaine City Council members. I hope we can all commit to decorum and respect, and focus on what will serve the community of Blaine best.
City council can listen and respond to community concerns, and ensure that we either adjust policy, or fully explain any misunderstandings so that molehills do not grow into mountains.
A council who is listening to all the pros and cons will not always be voting seven to zero on everything put before it, and that’s OK. We want any of our neighbors to feel respected and comfortable to serve us on council or to bring debate and questions to the council. I hope we share a goal of enacting and improving good ideas for our town.
Richard May,
Blaine City Council member
Blaine
