Two stop signs expected to be installed at the intersection of Birch Bay Drive and Birch Point Road within the next month have Birch Bay residents concerned over safety.
Whatcom County Council voted 7-0 during its February 21 meeting to establish stop signs at the intersection, just north of Birch Bay Village, for southbound traffic on Birch Point Road and for westbound traffic on Birch Bay Drive. The speed limit is 35 mph.
Council followed public works staff’s recommendation that the signs were needed for traffic control as housing construction continues at Horizon at Semiahmoo. Birch Point Road will serve as a second fire access road for the subdivision, which is expected to bring 540 units to the 149-acre property between Birch Point Road and Semiahmoo Parkway.
Councilmember Carol Frazey asked Whatcom County traffic engineer Doug Ranney during the February 21 public works and health committee meeting if he had heard feedback from community members since the ordinance was introduced February 7. He said he hadn’t heard anything but anticipated input. Frazey said she was concerned that the public hadn’t given any feedback ahead of the public hearing that was scheduled during the regular meeting later that day.
Birch Bay Village board member Sandy Zeitel was the only person who spoke during the public hearing on the stop signs.
“Take a regular car and drive it on the wet and icy road and I think you’ll change your mind about putting [a stop sign] there,” she told council. “We would be slipping and sliding. It’s already a dangerous curve. I think there are going to be accidents and people are going to get killed. People are going to be sliding down the road. We will not be able to make it up the hill.”
Immediately following the public hearing, councilmember Todd Donovan moved to approve the ordinance and councilmember Tyler Byrd seconded the motion.
Donovan said public works employees gave a compelling reason to put the stop signs in. Councilmember Kathy Kershner said she would go with staff’s recommendation because they had thoroughly researched the intersection and determined stop signs were necessary.
Ranney said staff always considers roadway safety due to weather concerns and maintenance crews work their best to make roads safe during poor weather.
“The issue here is sight distance and, at the top of that hill, there is a problem and the stop signs are necessary to make that intersection safe as it’s opened,” he said.
Ranney said the stop signs would be installed within the next two to three weeks. He said the stop signs were necessary because of anticipated increase in traffic: Over 30 building permits have been issued at Horizon and fire code requires a second emergency access road for that many homes.
Whatcom County Council clerk Dana Brown-Davis said Birch Bay residents have sent feedback to councilmembers following the February 21 decision, but did not have an estimate on how many people have emailed or phoned council. Brown-Davis said there are no plans for the stop signs to be on the Tuesday, March 7 council meeting agenda but residents may speak during the meeting’s public comment period and email councilmembers at council@co.whatcom.wa.us.
The next council meeting will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham or remotely. For more information on remote participation, visit the county's website.
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Raymondd
As president of Birch Bay View homeowners' association i submit that we are opposed to this being done. A stop sign at the top of a hill? Has any one of our counsel members driven this road in snow, ice, wet weather, in the dark of night, or even in the light of day, and how do they propose to keep traffic flowing at the worst of these times? I think NOT! The roomer. mill had only one stop sign and now you report there would be two. At this location at the top of a hill on a main arterial (if you can call it that) that at present has absolutely no side road access makes no sense. The council has let the present property owners off the agreed upon commitment to punch the extension road thru to Lincoln, and allowing him to install a gate. Therefore why the heck does the county need a stop sign for? One would think as intelligent as they are they would have insured these issues would have been resolved PRIOR to passing this issue. See you at Tonys Tavern at 6 p.m. Tuesday (today)
Thursday, March 2, 2023 Report this