City council approves 39 lots in Montfort Park

A new 39-lot housing development in the Montfort Park neighborhood is ready for lots to be turned over to buyers and construction to start now that Blaine City Council gave final approval to the Drayton Reach plat during its June 28 meeting. As part of the agreement, the city will also establish a new park in the area with a public trail and beach access to Drayton Harbor.

Skyline Properties Inc. real estate broker Grant Dalgliesh said all of the lots, except for three, have been sold. “There’s a couple people chomping at the bit,” he said, as he expects some buyers to start building toward the end of the summer.

Development of the 39 lots is the second phase of the Drayton Reach project. In 2008, Whatcom-Skagit Housing, a nonprofit similar to Habitat for Humanity that offers an affordable option for families to build their own homes, built the first phase consisting of 54 lots off Runge Avenue. Developer Jim Wong acquired the parcel of land in 2015.

The newly approved lots range in size from 7,000 to 18,000 square feet. Lots cost from $99,000 to $399,000, with six facing the waterfront.

While only three lots are available – one of which faces the waterfront – there will be new homes up for sale in the area eventually. Dalgliesh said some private builders have bought lots with plans of selling in the future.

Houses can be up to 30 feet tall, allowing for two stories, and homes, driveways, walkways or other structures cannot cover 40 percent of the lots.

There will also be some guidelines, like fence heights, exterior paint colors and the location of parked boats and RVs, but otherwise Dalgliesh said the owner will decide on the house design, giving the neighborhood character.

Dalgliesh said he is still waiting on stormwater approval from Whatcom County Public Works, which he said should be granted by the end of the week. Then the pending sales will be closed. 

Along with the approval of the plat, the city also agrees to make stormwater and off-site trail improvements along with a shoreline park and trail. A trail will connect the area with Heron’s Pond Park to the north, and a separate trail will offer access to the Dakota Creek Kayak Launch to the south.

The small park planned for the southwest section of the plat will provide beach access along with the trail, which will run along the waterfront that is behind some of the properties.

The project also connects Dodd Avenue with Leighton Street, joining neighborhoods off Hughes Avenue and Runge Avenue, which is phase one of the Drayton Reach project.

Dalgliesh said there are some continued amenities yet to be installed, like picnic tables, greenery, stairs down to the waterfront and street lamps, but all major infrastructure is complete and ready for builders.