The CDN article about the East Blaine de-annexation and UGA Swap excludes any mention of the extensively documented Blaine Water Coalition objections we sent to CDN well in advance. I feel this is not fair and balanced coverage.
CDN reporter Julia Tellman attended the July 14, 2025 Blaine City Council meeting where as a city council vacancy applicant I introduced myself as a member of the Blaine Water Coalition (BWC) speakers bureau, and provided both an oral and written presentation with alleged legal violations by the city related to the proposed UGA Swap, as well as BWC's legal objections to previous well-documented evidence of City misconduct.
Tellman mentioned none of this, nor the fact that I alone was hastily appointed at the meeting to write the voters pamphlet statement against the city-sponsored initiative, despite four additional qualified ‘Con’ applicants (important note: the City received only one ‘Pro’ Applicant).. This city attempt to isolate me and impair my ability to rebut city arguments for the measure in the voters pamphlet by limiting the 'Con' committee to a single person is unfair. The imbalanced reporting by CDN potentially prejudices public opinion against myself and Blaine Water Coalition.
Tellman quotes Blaine Community Development Services Director Alex Wenger as saying, "It's good planning to protect our drinking water," but completely ignores Blaine Water Coalition documented allegations sent to CDN showing Mr. Wenger submitted fraudulent State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determinations for both East Blaine and the Birch Point Semiahmoo Headlands in order to fast-track unlawful urban density residential development in violation of the Clean Water Act.
The two ballot measure resolutions for altering Blaine City Limits explicitly link reduction of the Urban Growth Area (UGA) in East Blaine--which was unlawfully located over our drinking water Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA)--to a massive new UGA on the Birch Point Semiahmoo Headlands, which is currently under Whatcom County jurisdiction, and located over another Critical Aquifer Recharge Area that can serve the drinking water needs of Birch Bay. The proposed new Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) under the proposed UGA Swap, like the PUDs in East Blaine, have not been preceded by state-mandated Environmental Impact Statements, required for any development in a CARA.
This strategic maneuver by Blaine Community Development Services is intended to generate sales tax revenue from the proposed 490 (with additional reserves up to 1500) luxury homes on the Birch Point Semiahmoo Headlands. The city plan for funding the electric, water and sewer system upgrades would likely require significant increases in utility bills or other tax assessments for existing Blaine residents.
Due to the failure of the City of Blaine to examine--through a stringent Environmental Impact Study (EIS) -- the environmental, financial, and system capacity studies, and to facilitate public participation in deciding if the UGA Swap is lawful, feasible, and in the community's best interest, this City-sponsored initiative has no place on the ballot until the City fully discloses the environmental and economic consequences of the UGA to the public with credible, independent verification.
The proposed 'UGA Swap' Avista at Birch Point PUD spans 181 acres with up to 490 detached single-family homes on larger lots, similar to luxury low-density homes in the Horizon community adjacent to Semiahmoo Resort. According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, affordable housing would be less than half the amount of Avista's $650K homes (today's prices, $700K in 2027 when finished) that require 155% Area Median Income ($168K), exceeding the affordable $311K limit by 109%, worsening the housing crisis, and boosting Blaine tax revenue without aiding first time home buyers or renters.
How Readers Can Make a Difference
Your involvement can make a difference. Here’s how: • Contact Officials: Reach out to the Whatcom County Auditor (elections@co.whatcom.wa.us) to support the petition for a supplemental con committee, or the Secretary of State (elections@sos.wa.gov) to request a pamphlet disclaimer.
Jay Taber is a member of Blaine Water Coalition speakers bureau. In 1994, he led what became Whatcom Environmental Council--including North Cascades Audubon Society--to victory at the Washington State Supreme Court, establishing legal precedent for Critical Areas protection statewide. Jay is a retired journalist and a recipient of the Defender of Democracy award.
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