The intent of this Blog is to inform and generate new ideas and direction for the proposed berm and pedestrian walkway for Birch Bay, WA. Presently, Whatcom County is looking to start their design process with their selected consultants for the Birch Bay Drive improvements. These improvements generally run the full length of the Bay from the intersection of Alderson Road to Birch Bay Village. As presented in the Whatcom Council Meeting, March 26, 2013, the improvements will be divided into three phases. This Blog is intended to address those improvements within Phase II, which is generally the commercial area of Birch Bay, from Trendwest to the Bay Market.
Please refer to the Birch Bay Study, located on this website and the articles published in the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, birchbaybuzz, dated April 2012 and March 2013 along with other publications by Whatcom County regarding the improvements.
It is my belief that a number of issues being addressed within these improvements look to improve the conditions along the Bay, such as removing of the concrete structures, placing electrical and telephone lines below grade and creating a natural feature to protect properties from flooding are valid improvements and beneficial. But, what concerns me is the proposed pedestrian walkway placed on the berm, its limitations and inability to address the safety of the pedestrian and lack of vision to look forward to what Birch Bay could be in the future is troubling.
With or without the berm, pedestrians will always be crossing Birch Bay Drive. Thus, generating a continued conflict between automobiles and pedestrians. In the meeting of March 26, 2013, the Whatcom County Public Works representative stated that the walkway would be used by bikers and walkers. Here again, the conflicts continue, since their proposed walkway is intended to be approximately 4 feet wide. This dimension doesn't even allow two couples to pass in opposite directions, let alone adding a bicycle into mix.
The true and natural solution is to convert Birch Bay Drive into a Pedestrian Promenade and relocating it behind or meandering through existing or future developments along this stretch of waterfront.
The following is a partial list of the benefits that can be enjoyed by the community, property owners and tourists:
Please bring forth your comments, they are truly appreciated. Thank you.
Please refer to the Birch Bay Study, located on this website and the articles published in the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, birchbaybuzz, dated April 2012 and March 2013 along with other publications by Whatcom County regarding the improvements.
It is my belief that a number of issues being addressed within these improvements look to improve the conditions along the Bay, such as removing of the concrete structures, placing electrical and telephone lines below grade and creating a natural feature to protect properties from flooding are valid improvements and beneficial. But, what concerns me is the proposed pedestrian walkway placed on the berm, its limitations and inability to address the safety of the pedestrian and lack of vision to look forward to what Birch Bay could be in the future is troubling.
With or without the berm, pedestrians will always be crossing Birch Bay Drive. Thus, generating a continued conflict between automobiles and pedestrians. In the meeting of March 26, 2013, the Whatcom County Public Works representative stated that the walkway would be used by bikers and walkers. Here again, the conflicts continue, since their proposed walkway is intended to be approximately 4 feet wide. This dimension doesn't even allow two couples to pass in opposite directions, let alone adding a bicycle into mix.
The true and natural solution is to convert Birch Bay Drive into a Pedestrian Promenade and relocating it behind or meandering through existing or future developments along this stretch of waterfront.
The following is a partial list of the benefits that can be enjoyed by the community, property owners and tourists:
- Elimination of pedestrian and automobile conflicts.
- Providing a safer community
- Removal of roadway water runoff and associated pollutants in a shoreline buffer area.
- Community opportunities to offer outdoor events to attract tourists and the enjoyment of the Community such as festivals, concerts, etc.
- Reduce noise, exhaust and other items associated with the automobile
- Look to have a Pedestrian Friendly Community as stated in the Birch Bay Design Guidelines.
- Achieve a direct link between the development on the East to the Bay
- Increase property values for the owners of property along this stretch of beach frontage.
- Create a Community sense of Place
- Reduce the required "front yard" setbacks to zero from the existing Birch Bay Drive right of way.
- The Promenade can easily be phased, such that, as a property becomes developed it could incorporate the relocated Birch Bay Drive inland. This would offer the Owner/Developer the opportunity to double its street frontage commercial. If not triple, if you count the Promenade frontage. Each phase could be temporarily terminated with a "round about".
- Owner/Developer could achieve zoning benefits through design solutions that reflected mixed use and a pedestrian friendly project
- As the Promenade develops, it becomes an attraction while enhancing the Bay shoreline. Thus, attracting tourists and new businesses into the area.
- Views would be increased and definitely enhanced with the elimination of the automobile, either moving or parked
- Costs of the present improvements would be reduced for Whatcom County, in that, their storm treatment and street overlay would be reduced or eliminated and the cost of the walk on top of the berm.
- High towering street lights could be replaced with lower more pedestrian friendly lighting, as seen in downtown Blaine.
- Public seating areas could be developed.
- Increased outdoor dining areas could be created by the restaurants along the Promenade
- Handicap access would be enhanced, since ramps to reach the top of the berm would not be required. Note ramps to rise 30" would require a length of 30 feet, more when you count for landings along its path.
- No additional costs to the Owners/Developers to incorporate the relocated Birch Bay Drive within or behind their developments. For what would become a driveway for a parking area, would now become the new Birch Bay Drive.
- Pedestrian links between rear located parking areas and the Promenade would again offer the Owner/Developer additional opportunities for commercial frontage. Which are people places.
- Parking areas would naturally be screened from the Bay, yet, close at hand, behind buildings
- Emergency Vehicles would still have access to the Promenade through the use of removable bollards.
Please bring forth your comments, they are truly appreciated. Thank you.
RSS Feed
