City will continue to grow – at slower rate

By Tara Nelson

Blaine will continue to grow at a fast pace during the next several years – but not as fast as city officials once thought, according to a study recently commissioned by the city of Blaine

A rough population forecast review completed by ECONorthwest, a Seattle-based planning firm, found that Blaine will likely grow at 3 to 4 percent per year between 2006 and 2012, as opposed to the 8 percent growth rate initially predicted by the city in 2003.

“That is still a healthy growth rate of about 200 additional people per year,” said Blaine City Manager Gary Tomsic. “And it doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet with regards to a moratorium. We still plan to monitor this very closely.”

Based on historic population trends, interviews with developers and regional development trends, the report found it is “unlikely that Blaine will sustain an 8 percent average annual growth rate between 2006 and 2012.”

While those numbers are higher than projected in the city’s comprehensive plan, they will not require an update to the city’s comprehensive plan, Tomsic said.