EIS Comment

5/8/25 letter to Whatcom County:

Since October 2024, members of Blaine Water Coalition, including myself and Otto Pointer, have submitted dozens of comments to the 2025 Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Update email address  2025update@co.whatcom.wa.us (different from the EIS address) that document the failure of Whatcom County government to supervise and harmonize the comprehensive planning of the cities in its jurisdiction, in particular the Urban Growth Area shell game and Critical Aquifer Recharge Area illegal rezone in Blaine, as well as bring to light the cover-up of a toxic waste site downtown next to Cain Creek, where WSDOT plans a salmon restoration project, and the 211-unit condominium plan on Semiahmoo spit that violates both SEPA and the Shoreline Management Act.

All the alternatives listed in chapter 2 of the Draft Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan EIS are flawed due to the myopic approach by the county that is driven solely by the building and real estate industries that are not providing affordable housing but rather housing that few who now live here can afford to rent, let alone own. This stampede to build tens of thousands of homes for new residents ignores examining whether the cities, such as Blaine, have the capacity to expand water and sewer to serve these new residents without gouging existing residents. It also ignores whether the cities are protecting or destroying critical areas as we speak.

Blaine's UGA SWAP, with no environmental considerations--which I addressed in my comments to Whatcom County Planning--is but one example of the county government ignoring illegal zoning amendments by the City of Blaine during 2023 and 2024, despite our pleas for help to the Whatcom County Council, Whatcom County Prosecutor, and Whatcom County Executive. Had Whatcom County abided by the public participation requirements under GMA, as well as the GMA requirement to prove water and sewer service capacity prior to designating UGAs and population increases, Blaine Water Coalition members would not have had to endure three years of battling official corruption and environmental destruction by Blaine public officials.

By neglecting to protect the civil rights of Blaine citizens to participate in planning their future and protecting their environment, health and safety, Whatcom County is liable.  

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