Port of Bellingham accepting final comments on public access plan

The Port of Bellingham is accepting public comment until Monday, January 22 for its draft recreation, conservation and public access plan.

The plan is updated every six years to guide development of the port’s open space, park and recreation facilities, and to ensure the port maintains eligibility for Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office grants, according to the port. Projects are ranked from 1 to 3 with one indicating that the project is funded, two that it is funded within the plan’s timeline and three meaning the project is not funded.

The port listed a number of upcoming projects in the draft plan, with the following located in Blaine Harbor:

• Replace about 144 concrete 16x16-inch panels at the boat launch (Rank 3, 2026-2030)

• Remove and replace approximately 575 linear feet of the remaining wooden boardwalk promenade, which was not done during the Blaine marina expansion in 1998-2000 (Rank 1 – only a condition survey is scheduled for 2024)

• Replace 24 shore power electric meters at the visitor dock (Rank 3, 2027-2030)

• Fix drainage issues by repairing a storm drain, construct a berm to capture boat rinse water and replace approximately 7,500 square feet of worn asphalt at the boat launch (Rank 3; 2026-2030)

• Conduct a condition survey of the access road to Jorgenson Pier (Rank 1; 2024)

The draft also outlines a proposal for the port to dedicate land near the Blaine Harbor boat launch to the city of Blaine to develop a “Plover Park” where people could walk to from downtown Blaine using a proposed pedestrian bridge over BNSF Railway tracks.

The port wants to complete the two-mile trail around Blaine Harbor and has planned a harbor overlook at the south-end of Marine Drive.

The port opened a survey last summer to better understand how the public uses its open spaces. The port noted in its draft that it needed additional outreach to understand how its Blaine land was utilized as only 25 of the survey’s 818 respondents were Blaine residents.

Port commissioners are slated to vote on the draft which was made available in mid-December, at the end of January.

The draft plan is available to review on the port’s website, at bit.ly/41SbJ8q. Comments may also be sent directly to port commissioners Bobby Briscoe (bobbyb@portofbellingham.com); Michael Shepard (michaels@portofbellingham.com); Ken Bell (kenb@portofbellingham.com) and port executive director Rob Fix (robf@portofbellingham.com).

The port owns, operates and manages 1,600 acres of property in Whatcom County, including the Blaine and Squalicum harbors.