Whatcom County Council OKs stop signs at Birch Point Road, Birch Bay Drive intersection

Two stop signs expected to be installed at the intersection of Birch Bay Drive and Birch Point Road within the next month have Birch Bay residents concerned over safety.

Whatcom County Council voted 7-0 during its February 21 meeting to establish stop signs at the intersection, just north of Birch Bay Village, for southbound traffic on Birch Point Road and for westbound traffic on Birch Bay Drive. The speed limit is 35 mph.

Council followed public works staff’s recommendation that the signs were needed for traffic control as housing construction continues at Horizon at Semiahmoo. Birch Point Road will serve as a second fire access road for the subdivision, which is expected to bring 540 units to the 149-acre property between Birch

Point Road and Semiahmoo Parkway.

Councilmember Carol Frazey asked Whatcom County traffic engineer Doug Ranney during the February 21 public works and health committee meeting if he had heard feedback from community members since the ordinance was introduced February 7. He said he hadn’t heard anything but anticipated input. Frazey cil’s attention after the Washington state legislature passed a law allowing cities, ports and counties to establish TIF districts earlier that year. TIF can be used as a financial tool to fund publicly owned infrastructure needed for planned developments in areas that historically haven’t had much economic development.

“We believe without infrastructure, very little development would happen in the area,” said Bob Stowe, the city’s TIF

(See TIF, page 6)