Council directs city staff to research downtown zoning recommendations

Blaine City Council unanimously approved city staff to research downtown zoning changes that could increase building height restrictions and decrease parking requirements.

Nearly a dozen people spoke on the zoning recommendations during the public comment portion of the July 10 council meeting. 

The city established the ad hoc downtown advisory committee in January to make recommendations on building height and parking regulations. The city established the committee after prospective developers voiced frustration that current zoning limited their ability to achieve a satisfactory return on investment.

After six months of meetings, the committee recommended reducing the required residential parking by half and asked city staff to consider a municipal parking garage. The committee also recommended allowing developers to increase building heights if they paid for extra public amenities such as a boardwalk, widened sidewalks, benches or water features. Under the committee’s recommendation, staff will look at allowing rooftop recreational amenities and appurtenances.

Council’s approval of the recommendations does not guarantee downtown zoning changes. City staff will further research the recommendations before planning commission and council vote on them.

Blaine resident Sheli Moore said she supported increasing building height requirements on the west side of Peace Portal Drive but wanted to ensure there would be sufficient parking. 

“What we have now is unique because the buildings have come down but development on that side is essential,” Moore said.

Fraser Elliott, a Blaine and Point Roberts resident, owns The Firm Real Estate Services building at 838 Peace Portal Drive and its adjacent building. Elliott said there were limited options for employees to live in Blaine and downtown business owners struggle to hire employees from Bellingham. He added there needs to be more mixed-density housing and options for seniors.

“We believe the downtown core needs to be vibrant,” Elliott said. “To be successful and to prosper, it needs density.”

Ad hoc committee members Scott Meaker, a builder and business owner, and Kevin Owens, a planning commissioner, said they supported the recommendations. 

Glen Pentland, a Salishan neighborhood resident who served on the committee, said he didn’t believe the recommendations should move forward. He said he had wanted the committee to produce a document or presentation identifying impacts for council.

“Based on a few people’s personal opinions, we’re going to forward this to the planning commission so people in our community can choose sides, feel ignored and voice their concerns all over again,” Pentland said.

There was little discussion from council before the vote. Councilmember Eric Davidson, who served on the ad hoc downtown advisory committee, said it was important for the city to at least consider the recommendations.

“This is not locking us into 48-foot buildings and greatly reduced parking requirements for new development,” councilmember Richard May said.