Lopez Correction

5/8/25 letter to county:

Blaine City Councilman Rhyan Lopez owns a home in the Drayton Harbor Reach housing development and has acknowledged a direct financial interest in the project. He has publicly stated that he has a conflict of interest regarding shoreline protection issues under the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), particularly in matters involving shoreline variances granted to a prominent realtor who is his next-door neighbor. This neighbor received a complete variance from Blaine Community Development Services (CDS) from the SMP requirements. 

There are concerns that the current harbor development is not complying with the state-required 125-foot setback from a salmon-bearing area such as the Dakota Creek-Drayton Harbor estuary, and that developers are encroaching into the SMP’s variance zone in violation of the plan with assistance from CDS director Alex Wenger. 

Rhyan has also stated he could not participate in decisions about a trail adjacent to his property due to his financial interest with the Drayton Harbor Reach developer. He has consistently voted against stormwater drain compliance and for parking lot variances for the Semiahmoo area. These actions, along with his stated conflict of interest with local developers, have raised concerns about his willingness to address SMP plans, variances, and building code violations. Notably, his neighbor’s variance was granted without a proper hearing, and there have been unaddressed violations related to shoreline armoring next to his property. 


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