In a 4-1 vote, Blaine Planning Commission recommended Blaine City Council approve increasing building heights on the west side of Peace Portal Drive by one story in the downtown core.
Planning commission’s vote during its October 10 meeting follows a series of discussions on whether to increase the building height at the request of developers who don’t believe they would get a good return on their investment with current zoning due to difficult building conditions.
Planning commissioner Jennifer Plombon, the lone opponent of the recommendation, said before casting her vote that she was against increasing building heights because the water view was a precious part of Blaine that she wanted to protect.
Commissioner Donald Kruse said that while he liked the water views from the vacant lots, the area was once developed and more buildings would bring a stronger tax base to the city. Commissioner Calvin Armerding said he didn’t believe the change would significantly impact the city, saying, “We’ll all be dead before the city has soaring skyscrapers.”
If approved by city council, the zoning change would allow building heights to increase 12 feet, from 36 to 48 feet, in the waterview subdistrict on the west side of Peace Portal Drive, running south of F Street to north of Clark Street.
Community Development Services director Alex Wenger told city council during its October 14 meeting that council could potentially review the recommendation as early as its next meeting on Monday,
October 28.
