Category : History(256)

In a June 1981 letter to the FAA's Northwest Regional Director, Zone 3 citizen group representative Virginia E. Dana expresses qualified support for the FAA's recommended people-per-acre density guidelines for recreational use of North Sea-Tac Park, while raising concerns about safety and population exposure under flight paths. The letter highlights that the proposed recreational density of 40 people per acre across 53 acres could allow up to 2,120 people in an area from which only roughly 1,000 residents were displaced through the airport's land buyout program. Dana urges continued attention to airport safety criteria and environmental protection for communities living adjacent to Sea-Tac Airport.

Letter from Sea-Tac Airport Manager Oris W. Dunham Jr. to William C. Holstine addressing community concerns about airport operations, including land acquisition programs, noise mitigation, flight operations, and the North Sea-Tac Park development. The letter responds to a November 14 meeting and community questionnaire about Port of Seattle relationships with surrounding neighborhoods.

Letter from Oris Dunham Jr., Chairman, to PAC members inviting them to a community meeting with Riverton Heights residents to address their grievances related to Sea-Tac International Airport. The meeting was scheduled for November 13, 1980 at Riverton Heights Elementary School.

Letter from Port of Seattle Policy Advisory Committee Chairman Oris Dunham to Virginia Dana providing status update on the Airport Open Use (AOU) classification in King County Zoning Ordinance. The letter explains the AOU classification’s purpose for economic development near airports and community concerns that led to a recommendation for deletion from the Highline Area

A 1980 Seattle Times article reports that federal and state officials revived a proposal to build a new small-craft general-aviation airport on the Eastside of King County, with three potential sites identified near Snoqualmie Falls and Fall City. The FAA offered to fund up to 80% of the estimated $4.5 million construction cost, citing growing congestion at Sea-Tac Airport caused by the mixing of small private planes with large commercial jets. South King County residents, long burdened by airport noise and safety concerns, largely welcomed the idea, arguing that Eastside communities benefiting from aviation should share the responsibility for housing general-aviation facilities.

Minutes from the August 2, 1979 second meeting of the North Clear Zone Recreation Plan Advisory Committee, held at the Highline Community Center, covering proposed recreational uses for land near Sea-Tac Airport's north clear zone. Topics discussed included an Earthworks Art installation, FAA density guidelines (1.5 people per acre), a possible 9-hole golf course, ATV facilities, use of Sunset Jr. High School, and passive park development around Tub Lake and Lake Reba. Lee Atwood was elected Chairperson, and the committee agreed to reconvene with the consulting firm to develop workable recreation plan recommendations within FAA constraints.

A July 1979 letter from planner Janis Snoey to FAA Airport Planning Branch representative George Sato transmits five pre-schematic site plans for the North Sea-Tac Park, showing projected peak-time visitor numbers under various development scenarios. The plans, prepared following an FAA meeting on July 17, 1979, are accompanied by a 'Carrying Capacity' map that classifies park areas by development suitability—from very high intensity (sports fields, motorcycle trails) to low intensity (foot paths only)—based on analysis of soils, hydrology, vegetation, and noise. The documents were intended solely to provoke discussion during the early master planning phase for the North Sea-Tac site.

These three hand-drawn planning maps present alternative development scenarios for North Sea-Tac Park, labeled 'Passive,' 'Modified Passive,' and 'Modified Passive 2.' Each concept proposes different mixes of recreational facilities—such as soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, a golf course, and archery targets—alongside preserved natural areas, nature trails, and passive open space. The maps were intended solely for discussion purposes and show peak-time visitor capacity estimates for each proposed facility zone.