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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
April 7 - 13, 2022
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IN THIS
ISSUE
WCLS letter to the community, page 5
U.S. census shows Blaine and Birch Bay growth
Blaine farmers market starts back up, page 5
Pickleball becomes official state sport, page 8
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Relaxed rules result in border rush
By Ian Haupt
(See Census, page 13)
s Travelers lined up to enter Canada on April 1, the day the Canadian government dropped its antigen testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers. Over 7,400 vehicles crossed both ways through the Peace Arch border crossing on April 1, according to data from Cascade Gateway. Photo by Hannah Cross
Over 100 residents attend Semiahmoo Highlands community meeting, stormwater questions raised By Grace McCarthy Over 100 Blaine and Birch Bay residents packed into Semiahmoo Resort’s Blakely room or joined remotely to attend a community meeting on the proposed Semiahmoo Highlands, a 353-acre development expected to bring over 480 residential units and retail space. Tension between residents and the developer was felt throughout the meeting as people quickly brought up concerns over stormwater management and infrastructure issues. Semiahmoo Highlands developer Wayne Schwandt, who was also in charge of the
Sea Smoke neighborhood along Semiahmoo Parkway, led most of the two-hour meeting on March 30. Presenters planned to answer questions after giving an overview of the project, but were soon bombarded with interruptions and raised hands from concerned community members. Schwandt said he acquired the Semiahmoo property from California-based Ocean View Farms, which left the property undeveloped after it was unable to successfully start a blueberry farm nearly a decade ago. The project will keep a cohesive design despite being divided between the city of
Beachwalker rejects city easement settlement By Grace McCarthy The city of Blaine and Beachwalker Villas Association are in an easement disagreement that have already cost both parties thousands in legal fees to determine whether the city can construct a trail in front of the condominium property. A beach pathway in front of Beachwalker already connects the Semiahmoo Spit trail loop, but the trail the city proposes would connect the adjacent Marin and Semiahmoo Shores properties through a more in-
land pathway. The city and Beachwalker have been split since 2018 on the location of a public access easement that was created in 1985, when the Semiahmoo Spit Boundary Line Adjustment was recorded. The two groups are at an impasse over whether the easement made in 1985 was floating, meaning it was defined in general terms without a definitive location. The city argues the easement was to be measured 30-feet inland from the ordinary high water mark at the time of construction, placing it closer
to the Beachwalker property. Beachwalker representatives argue the easement has a defined area on the beach that would not put it as close to the condominiums. The city gained new easements to Beachwalker’s adjacent properties, Marin and Semiahmoo Shores, in 2013 and 2018. Beachwalker homeowner association boardmember Susan Stearns said Beachwalker learned in 2018 the city wanted to connect an eight-foot-wide gravel (See Trail, page 2)
Blaine and Whatcom County land almost evenly. Single-family lots, townhomes and multi-family buildings will be included in the project as well as commercial spaces, with development being denser within city limits. The project will have a 100foot buffer of mature trees along Semiahmoo Parkway, developers said, in addition to community parks and trail systems through forested areas and wetlands. The first phase won’t be built out for another six to eight years, Schwandt said. It will have 40 lots and a neighborhood ser(See Meeting, page 3)
INSIDE
The 2020 U.S. census was conducted two years ago, and while the pandemic delayed the process, the U.S. Census Bureau has now released in-depth demographic statistics. The estimates show the Blaine and Birch Bay area grew by 22 percent over the past decade and that together they are larger than either of the neighboring cities of Ferndale and Lynden. The federal government uses census data to distribute funds and assistance to state and local governments as well as households and organizations. But the data is also useful for academic research, economic development and political redistricting. The Northern Light looked at the data to see who makes up the Blaine and Birch Bay area and how it’s grown. Typically, about 64 percent of households respond when the census is conducted. The U.S. Census Bureau makes doorto-door efforts to collect missing data, but still all residents do not participate. According to 2020 census data, Blaine’s population is 5,884. It grew by 1,200 people from 2010 to 2020, a 25.6 percent increase. Blaine city limits include downtown and Semiahmoo; they stretch along the U.S./Canada border from just east of Valley View Road across Drayton Harbor to Semiahmoo Park and the neighborhoods to the immediate south. Birch Bay had 10,115 residents in 2020. Birch Bay gained about 1,700 people over the decade, which made for a 20.2 percent increase. The unincorporated area spans from Kickerville Road to the bay, Semiahmoo Drive and Point Whitehorn between Drayton Harbor Road and Cherry Point. Together, Birch Bay and Blaine’s population are greater than either Ferndale or Lynden. Birch Bay and Blaine have nearly 16,000 people while Ferndale has 15,048 and Lynden has 15,749. However, according to the data, Ferndale and Lynden gained more residents over the decade. Both cities’ populations
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