Important Whatcom County Council Meeting Tonight!

Blogged under Whatcom County, Development by Meghan on Tuesday 28 February 2006 at 4:41 pm

The Whatcom County Council is meeting tonight about “imposing an interim moratorium on the acceptance of short plat applications for subdivisions in the rural zones within agriculture protection overlay areas, rural forestry zones, suburban enclaves and transportation corridors.”

Anyone who has land in the county and is considering a short plat should be present at this meeting!

The meeting is at 6:30pm at the Whatcom County Council Chambers at the Courthouse, Suite 105, 311 Grand Avenue.

Blaine Officials Satisfied, Residents Are Not

Blogged under Blaine & Birch Bay, Development by Meghan on Friday 24 February 2006 at 12:28 pm

Seagrass Cottages II has finally changed its proposal enough to satisfy Blaine planners. However, Blaine residents are still not happy with the proposed 68 unit development on Seamiahmoo spit.

Residents complain that the 20 acre development north of Semiahmoo park will block views. Trillium Corp., representing the project said they are working to cluster things closer together to obstruct less of the view.

Pending Ratios for 02/22/06

Blogged under Real Estate Sales Statistics by Meghan on Thursday 23 February 2006 at 5:37 pm

Here are the pending ratios for this week.

Bellingham 02/22/06
Blaine/Birch Bay 02/22/06
Ferndale 02/22/06
Lynden 02/22/06
Sudden Valley 02/22/06

What are pending ratios?

Catch of the Day!

Blogged under Random by Meghan on Tuesday 21 February 2006 at 3:51 pm

Mike Bredeson (Johnson Team) and David Pieratt (DMP Construction) were out on the boat for a few hours around Orcas Island today. Mike lost two fish to seals before pulling in a six pounder.  It was unworthy of a picture next to David’s 10.5 pound blackmouth seen below!

02.21.06.JPG

I hope you dance

Blogged under Thoughts by Meghan on Monday 20 February 2006 at 3:50 pm

“…If you have the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance!”

I like a variety of music, from classical to country, and recently I have been in a country-listening period.  One of the things that attracts me to country music is that every now and then there is a song whose lyrics put some basic life-truths into a nutshell.  When I heard Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” I knew it was one of those songs. 

Perhaps the most visible example of this choice right now is the Olympians gathered in Torino Italy.  They have all chosen to stretch themselves, take a risk, make the commitment, reach for the joy and strive to be the best that they can be.  As they look back on the sport aspect of their lives they should never have to say, “I should have…If only…I wish.”

The Olympians have made a huge commitment, but each of us has this choice to make on a daily basis.  Do we make the choice to spend the extra minutes to do something that makes us proud or do we settle for “good enough”?  Do we put out the extra effort to complete the more difficult task that brings us the greater reward in our own eyes?  Do we take the risk that will give us the thrill of success while knowing that we could fail?  Do we take the opportunities life offers for fun as well as work?  Now and again we make these choices regarding a huge, life-changing issue, but most of the time they are made in a split second about a detail…and it is those details that compose our lives.

Those of us on The Johnson Team strive to maintain a collective spirit of being the best we can be…for you and for ourselves.  As the poet says, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these – ‘It might have been’.”  Give us a call – we can help you dance.

No Marina?

Blogged under GP/Waterfront by Meghan on Sunday 19 February 2006 at 5:05 pm

Another redevelopment plan for the former GP waterfront area has been presented. The major difference: no marina! While the other plans all put a 350-450 slip marina in the old wastewater treatment lagoon, the new plan, presented by the Bellingham Bay Foundation, calls for filling in the lagoon and creating a 30 acre park. The foundation feels that a marina would only service a small percentage of the population and calls for more dry land storage for boats as an alternative so that more people can enjoy the land. Some quick numbers for you: 

Estimated cost of removing tainted sediment from the lagoon: $23.5 million.
Estimated cost of building a marina: $16-18 million.
(These figures are according to Mitchel Friedman, Bellingham Bay Foundation member). 
However, according to Port Officials, there are several things which the Bellingham Bay Foundation may have overlooked. 

1. The US Army Corps of Engineers has declared that once the treatment lagoon is no longer being used for industrial purposes, it should be returned to aquatic land.  2. Their plan calls for 3 parallel channels cutting through the old site, but port officials say that excavating the channels would be difficult, expensive and involve a lot of permits which could be difficult to get. While the Port of Bellingham has said that it will consider all suggestions, it is worth remembering that the port does own the land and one of their primary reasons for purchasing the land was to increase the amount of marina slips available in the port.  At the most recent advisory committee meeting, the new plan was largely discounted.

  At the most recent advisory committee meeting, the new plan was largely discounted.

What to do about mold & mildew

Blogged under Random by Meghan on Sunday 19 February 2006 at 5:04 pm

Picture this: your dream kitchen is complete and you have been loving it for a while now! Then you see it - that black stuff developing on the caulking around your sink: MILDEW! Mold and mildew thrive in hot and humid areas and your kitchen certainly qualifies.

Before you panic, try this quick, simple trick. Bleach. Regular old bleach. Use a sponge and full strength bleach to scrub away at the mildew. Chances are, that will get rid of it all.

There is a chance that the mildew has gone deeper and has penetrated the caulking. If so, it is probably best to recaulk your sink. Caulking is a relatively simple with all the supplies redily available at your local home improvement store.

Even if you don’t have any mildew or mold, make sure that you do not get any by cleaning your caulking area with bleach every few months.

PS - Straight bleach also does wonders on mildew stained tiles in showers, and it is much less expensive than the special mildew killing products on the market.

Whatcom County Real Estate Development

Blogged under Whatcom County, Development by Meghan on Wednesday 15 February 2006 at 10:21 am

Work Session

Scheduled by: The Planning Commission
About: Bellingham’s growth area land use policies and five year review.
When: 6:30pm, Thursday February 16
Where: Council Chambers at the County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave

Comment

About: The county’s determination that a new subdivision and rezoning in Ferndale would not have a significant environmental impact.
Location: Ferndale’s growth are
Homes: 103
Land: 69 acres
Rezoning: From long term to short term growth area.
Details: There were some conditions attached.

Application: Conditional use permit to expand a footprint
Location: 8629 Kendall Road
New size: 15,664 square feet in two phases
Old size: 9,750 square feet (originally approved).
Applicant: Sumas Slavic Pentecostal Church
Comment Deadline: Thursday, February 23

More info: Call 676-6907 or click here.

Ferndale Real Estate Development

Blogged under Ferndale, Development by Meghan on Wednesday 15 February 2006 at 10:09 am

Hearing

Scheduled by: Hearing examiner

Application: For a 10-lot development and conditional-use permit for duplexes.

Location: 2185 Seamount Drive
Land: 3.3 acres

Developer: Homestead Northwest Development Co.

When: 7pm, Thursday February 16

Where: Ferndale City Hall Annex, 5694 Second Ave

More info: Call 384-4006 or click here.

Everson Real Estate Development

Blogged under Everson & Nooksack, Development by Meghan on Wednesday 15 February 2006 at 10:09 am

Public Hearing
Scheduled by: Everson City Council

Application: to rezone land from agricultural to residential-multiple use

Location: 712 E. Main St.

Applicant: Dennis Lautenbach
When: 7:30pm, Tuesday February 14

Where: Everson City Hall, 111 W. Main St.

More info: call 966-3411.

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