Birch Bay Gets No Respect

Blaine’s Urban Growth Area is the “most significantly oversized” UGA in the county. This is according to Whatcom County officials, as reported by Tara Nelson in The Northern Light this week. Blaine's City Council is offering a reduction of 2,549 acres, leaving 1,176 for future development. The County Planning Department is expected to recommend that Birch Bay's UGA remain unchanged at 4,375 acres. In population, the county is projecting Blaine’s growth to grow from 4,667 residents in 2008 to 8,370 in 2031. Birch Bay’s growth, now estimated at 5,290, is projected at 9,619 in 2031.

Whatcom County is under the gun from the State to update its growth management plan. After a series of extensions, the deadline for the county is now Dec. 1. This month, cities and unincorporated communities are negotiating their plans with the county.

Here, in summary, is Blaine's argument for larger allocations:
“While the work of the Birch Bay Steering Committee is admirable and it is clear that they and many more in Birch Bay have invested a great deal of time and thought into Birch Bay improvements, they are nevertheless only a committee and not a governing body. Birch Bay has limited infrastructure built to rural standards (roads, pedestrian sidewalks or walkways, storm water facilities.) Additionally, Birch Bay does not have many essential public services and facilities at an adequate urban standard to service Birch By community (police and fire protection, park and recreational facilities, public library community/senior center, schools.)”

We regard this statement as a gratuitous slap. It would be easy to ridicule the Blaine government and its problems with resolving difficulties, starting with the airport. And certainly, Birch Bay has problems, too. But the overriding factor is that the two communities have good reasons to work together. Where would the Blaine school system be without Birch Bay students and the Birch Bay tax base? North Whatcom Fire and Rescue is as much Birch Bay as it is Blaine. The Park & Rec District, recently rejuvenated, is an example of community cooperation and a building block.

Moreover, the county's growth plan is for 2031. Essentially, it provides guidelines. It is not about forcing newcomers where to live. They will have choices – Fairhaven, Ferndale, etc. Does the Blaine City Council believe the factors that have attracted people to Birch Bay – the water and beaches plus enterprising developers – will have less influence in the next two decades? As for this decade, as Alan Friedlob argued here in a February post, Birch Bay is doing fine in cooperation with the county.

What does the Blaine council expect will happen in 20 years? Will Birch Bay incorporate? Or, more likely, will growth create a contiguous, single community to foster a merger as happened with Fairhaven and Bellingham?

All of the Whatcom communities will present their recommendations to Whatcom County Council tomorrow night (June 16). Birch Bay is scheduled for 7 o'clock; Blaine for 7:25. There is only time for presentations this week. Tuesday evening, the 23rd, will be the time for public comment. To read the UGA proposal of all communities go to www.co.whatcom.wa/us/pds/2031

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