Birch Bay, WA Steering Committee
Planning together for our collective future.
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead |
The counter is as of 6-27-07 at 2:30 pm. |
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40th Annual Birch Bay Marathon 2-18-08 pictures link
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Google Map link http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Birch+Bay,+Washington,+United+States&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=48.923627,-122.743034&spn=0.10422,0.302124&om=0
The Birch Bay Area
Birch Bay is an unincorporated UGA (urban growth area) in the northwest corner of Whatcom County, WA. It consists of approximately 8,699 acres located 6 miles south of the City of Blaine and the Canadian border on the Georgia Strait. The 1990 U.S. Census showed Birch Bay with 2,656 persons and in the year 2000 with 4,961 persons, an increase of 87%. Birch Bay has been and is experiencing unprecedented growth and is now (2007, Berk & Assoc.) estimated to have approximately 5,900 persons. While the Birch Bay Subarea Plan calls for a year 2022 population of 9,619 persons, it has been suggested that number may be reached around year 2010.
Birch Bay has been a resort destination for over 100 years with 51% of the housing stock in year 2000 being seasonally occupied according to the U. S. Census. The summer population is estimated to triple to quadruple (3 to 4 times) in size according to the Birch Bay Water & Sewer District. Also in year 2000, a mailing to property owners showed that approximately 33% of property owners were Canadian. The growth today is probably more in permanent residents but vacation properties are also growing, including the addition of time-shares and hotel properties. Forecasting is further complicated by the fact that vacations homes can be turned into permanent residences without any changes being apparent. The mailing address for Birch Bay is Blaine, WA 98230.
Whatcom County has made Birch Bay an urban growth area where growth is allowed and urbanization is encouraged. The community has seen this growth and has decided, as community, that this growth must occur responsibly with considered deliberation and that the quality of life that has drawn people here in the first place is at least maintained, if not improved.
The Birch Bay Steering Committee is Birch Bays version of the town hall meeting where we come together as community to discuss concerns, questions and opportunities in an effort to take charge of our own future.
The Steering committee is not empowered by any official authority, does not answer to any constituency and does not have any mechanism to enforce its recommendations. The Steering Committee:
1) Is only as representative as those who choose to participate.
2) Is a direct communication from the people but does not claim to represent all the people in the community.
3) Is a group of the community which works towards education and consensus or, at least, tries to define issues/differences/opportunities.
The job of the chair of the Steering Committee is to facilitate civil, respectful discussion, provide organization and a means of communication and to encourage responsibility and resourcefulness. The chair does not speak for the whole community or for the Steering Committee except when expressly directed to do so by the Committee.
The Steering Committee coordinates the work of the implementation subcommittees. The formal organization of voting representatives exists for those occasions when the community needs to speak as one with a service provider or on a specific issue. The Steering Committee usually meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month. The Chair is Kathy Berg, Vice Chair is Doralee Booth. See also the History page.
Implementation subcommittees of the Birch Bay Steering Committee are implementing the Birch Bay Community Plan, the subarea plan of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan as adopted September 28, 2004. ALL meetings are open to the public and your participation is encouraged if you are a resident and/or property owner in the Birch Bay area. Link to "The Plan" & Whatcom County Planning & Development Services: HTTP://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/planning/birchbay_subarea.jsp
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Implementation Subcommittees and others working for the betterment of the Birch Bay area.
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Birch Bay Incorporation
Has studied the feasibility of incorporation as suggested in the Community Plan. Usually meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Chair is Kathy Berg.
- Birch Bay Shoreline Enhancement http://www.wcog.org/library/projects/birchbay/bermreport.pdf
Working towards the restoration of the shoreline and berm building from Terrell Creek north to Roger's Slough (aka Seagull Cove or Stinky Cove). Usually meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Chair is Kathy Berg.
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Design Guidelines
Has developed with the community and the aid of a consultant, design standards for the resort, neighborhood & general commercial zones of the Birch Bay UGA. Beginning to answer the question, "What do we want Birch Bay to look & feel like?" Usually meets on the 4th Tuesday. Chair is Craig Telgenhoff.
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Land use/Economic Development/Infrastructure
Usually meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Chair is Kelvin Barton.
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Transportation/Public Safety
Working with Whatcom County Planning & Development to update and expand the Transportation Element of the sub area plan and on a concurrency ordinance as required by the Growth Management Act of WA State. Usually meets the 3rd Thursday of the month. Co-chairs are Doralee Booth & Claudia Hollod.
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Parks, Recreation & Open Space
This subcommittee works in cooperation with the elected Northwest Parks & Recreation Commission. The new chair is Mark Simard (2-18-08) and will probably meet on the 2nd Thursday of every other month starting the 10th of April, 2008.
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Task Force for Stormwater Management/Shellfish Protection
http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/BirchBayStormwaterManagementPlan.htm
Has developed and is implementing the Birch Bay Watershed Stormwater Management Action Plan through the establishment of the Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resource Management District (BB WARM). Usually meets the 3rd Wednesday of the Month. Co-chairs are Alan Friedlob, Keats Garman & Gerald Larson.
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Marine Resources/Water Quality Specialist - Gerald (Jerry) Larson - Birch Bays representative to the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee and an appointee to the Puget Sound Crab & Shrimp review panel of the WA State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (DFW).
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Birch Bay School
Not yet active to work with the Blaine School District to establish a school in the Birch Bay UGA. Co-chairs are Doralee & Bill Booth.
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Emergency Preparedness Task Force, our newest community group. Usually meets the 3rd Thursday, immediately preceding the Transportation/Public Safety subcommittee. Chair is Ruth Higgins, Vice Chair is Richard Williams.
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Chums of Terrell Creek (N-SEA) - salmon habitat restoration. Chair is Elie Friedlob. N-SEA website http://www.n-sea.org/
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NOTE to developers - The Birch Bay attitude towards development and growth within our unincorporated urban growth area (UGA), the short version:
The following values have been identified by the Birch Bay Community through an extensive public review and democratic decision making process since January 2001. These values are those things that will make built-Birch Bay the most livable, sustainable and harmonious with the natural environment which are the characteristics that attracted the majority of people to this area in the first place. While these values are in the process of being codified, careful consideration of these values will make new development far more attractive to buyers, customers, visitors and the neighbors and render the area the most livable in the long run. Whatcom County Planning and Development Services has been asked to apply these values to the greatest extent possible when evaluating development projects in the Birch Bay UGA and watershed.
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- Transportation and Connectivity - All development must be connected to the rest of the community by a grid of bicycle/pedestrian trails as well as roads. Special consideration must be given for safe access to the shoreline by all development, especially if shoreline access is used as a selling point for a development.
- Planning now for present and future multi-modal streets and roads that are designed to safely serve drivers, transit riders, pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as for older people, children and people with disabilities.
- Stormwater Management - Apply low impact development standards wherever appropriate and always use best management practices/best available science.
- Preserve natural resources, view sheds, open space and wildlife habitat. Use cluster housing, the natural landscape and carefully consider the "Look and Feel" of a place. Provide pocket/neighborhood parks and pedestrian/bicycle trails for recreation and connectivity within a development. Provide for the responsible exercise of the family pets including clean-up.
- Preserve trees, especially mature trees. Replace trees that have been destroyed by development, add trees wherever possible and recognize that trees add value to property development.
- Shoreline Aesthetics - Along the shoreline, protect views with the use of setbacks, height restrictions and the under grounding of utilities. Provide an additional measure of open space, public access and a sense of "Shoreline Aesthetics."
- Take full advantage of the Birch Bay Design Guidelines for Commercial Development report dated June 2007.
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