THE GREAT UNKNOWN

I don't know the number of households in Blaine and the portion of Birch Bay receiving Blaine water, but the $40 million for sewer and water extension to the proposed Birch Point Urban Growth Area, less the developer impact fees, can be divided by the number of households in arriving at the monthly increase on utility bills. 

What's missing in the proposed Blaine Comprehensive Plan is the projected increase in taxes and utility bills to service bonds for the increased capital and operational costs associated with treating both stormwater and sewage from proposed Birch Point annexation and development. This information would be revealed in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Capital Facilities Plan (required by Washington State), but the City of Blaine refuses to do Environmental Impact Studies that uncover environmental constraints on developers, such as Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARAs).

And now, the City of Blaine is proposing that Whatcom County allow them to annex 460 acres at Birch Point for luxury housing with no EIS, in an area that Whatcom County Planning says is one big CARA that cannot be developed. On top of that, the City of Blaine is asking voters to approve the devious Prop 7, essentially writing a blank check to cover costs to taxpayers of what I will call, "The Great Unknown."