A public hearing on a proposed multi-family housing tax exemption has been moved to Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m., according to a statement from the city of Blaine.
The event was previously scheduled for June 10 at the same time. Community development services director Stacie Pratschner said the reason for this change is because The Bellingham Herald did not post a notice of the hearing on one of the dates requested by the city.
The city of Blaine is rescheduling to be in compliance with the noticing requirements of RCW 84.14.0404 which state that notice must be given “once each week for two consecutive weeks ... before the date of the hearing in a paper having a general circulation in the city or county where the proposed residential targeted area is located.”
The hearing is a state-mandated step as the city works to promote economic growth in downtown Blaine. A multi-family housing tax exemption policy is being considered by Blaine city council to address the city’s growing population and its current lack of affordable housing.
The tax exemption is an incentive that seeks to encourage new housing options, including apartments, condominiums and mixed-use structures with three or more residential units, according to Washington state legislature criteria.
Savings depend on the value of improvements, said Pratschner. The property tax rate in Whatcom County is currently 0.89 percent. The exemption covers the improvement value of that new housing from the ad valorem property tax for eight to 12 years. Any non-residential improvements are not included.
To make this happen, the city is looking to designate parcels of the central business district as targeted residential areas – desired locations for greater density and urban housing development, to accommodate the city’s projected 20-year population growth.
In that time, Blaine’s urban growth area will see a projected influx of 4,000 people.
The public hearing is the second of several state-mandated steps to establish the tax exemption. Following the public hearing, the city’s adoption of the ordinance will include residential targeted area designation, an application process, procedures, fees and a delineation of additional requirements for program eligibility.
Written comments may now be submitted to Pratschner at spratschner@cityofblaine.com until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 24.
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