Briefly...

News from Blaine City Council’s regular meeting on February 12. 

Comprehensive plan to be reviewed

According to the Growth Management Act, the city council can approve amendments to the comprehensive plan once per year. All proposed amendments must be approved by resolution at the beginning of the year prior to city staff beginning environmental review, scheduling public hearings or providing staff reports to the planning commission and city council in 2018. Additions can be approved by the city council in June. On Monday, the city council voted 5-0 to add three new items to the comprehensive plan docket. The new items are:

– Review the Planned Commercial zoning district and consider possible changes to the comprehensive plan’s land-use designation.

– Review the manufacturing zoning designation and adjacent commercial zoning designation to evaluate if certain areas should be rezoned or if permitted uses should be adjusted.

– Update the capital facilities plan to include information from the 2018 water system plan.

Sea Smoke final plat approved

Bellingham-based developer, Rimland Pacific, received final plat approval for the Sea Smoke, a project that includes a mix of residential and commercial space on 19.4 acres in Semiahmoo.

Last November, the developer began construction of 40 single-family homes, ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet and priced between $350,000 and $550,000, with plans to later build a personal storage indoor storage facility, multi-family housing and a mixed-use commercial building. Sea Smoke homeowners will be members of the Semiahmoo Resort Association and while it is not required for the project to move forward, the developer is negotiating covenants, conditions and restrictions with the association now.

The development includes the possibility of a public park, but that has yet to be finalized.

City retains local real estate agents to list Gateway Property

Local Windermere real estate agents, Mike Kent and Jeff Johnson, will work with the city to list property at Blaine’s Gateway Parcel. On Monday, Blaine City Council voted 5-0 to authorize city manager Dave Wilbrecht to sign a one-year listing contract with the firm.

Previously, the city awarded the listing to a Canadian company which resulted in grumbling by local real estate professionals. “Our experience has shown us that the local realtor seems to be working the hardest,” Wilbrecht said. “It’s really a practice in trying to stay local.”