FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 13, 2007
Contact: Sylvia Goodwin
Port of Bellingham
(360) 676-2500
PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT BLAINE LONG-RANGE PLAN
ENCOURAGED AT UPCOMING PORT COMMISSION MEETING
[Bellingham, Wash.] A public hearing at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept.18, at the Port of Bellingham Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue, will give the community an opportunity to comment on a plan for the future development of the port's Blaine waterfront properties.
The draft Blaine Wharf District Master Plan will be presented to the port's Board of Commissioners, who will review the plan and conduct a public hearing on it at the beginning of their commission meeting.
The Blaine Wharf District Master Plan features an overall design and land use concept that provides for a mix of commercial, industrial, residential, and recreational uses that are pedestrian friendly and serve the needs of business, residents, and visitors. The draft plan shows specific view corridors and proposes height limits, which allow for a variety of marine related and water enjoyment uses, and residential uses above the ground floor, including a small hotel or conference center. In addition, the plan preserves and enhances the industrial area for water-dependent and water-oriented uses. Improved connections to and from downtown including a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and improvements to roads, parks and trails are also being considered.
The City of Blaine and Port of Bellingham are working together on this long-range plan that will include a City Comprehensive Plan amendment and a port Update of the Scheme of Harbor Improvements for Blaine to guide development in the Blaine Wharf District. This district spans the Blaine waterfront from the BNSF main line railroad tracks to the end of Marine Drive, just past the Fisherman's Pier and is about 47 upland acres. The port and city share the goals of keeping the developments and surroundings of the waterfront authentic and of improving the connection both physically and visually between downtown and the harbor.
In addition to its function as an element of the city's Comprehensive Plan, the Blaine Wharf District Master Plan will serve as an update to the Port's 1998 Blaine Harbor Comprehensive Improvement Plan. Revisions to the city's Shoreline Master Program, development regulations, and design standards also will be addressed to ensure consistency.
In addition to this public hearing before the Port Commission, the Blaine Planning Commission held a hearing on Sept. 13 and the Blaine City Council will have a public hearing on the plan after the city's Planning Commission completes its review and recommendations.
More background information on the Blaine Wharf District Master Plan is available at www.portofbellingham.com .
