Category : Correspondence(303)

This March 1979 newsletter from the Westside Hilltop Area Survival Committee (WHSC) updates Hilltop Community residents on two key hearings: one opposing the Port of Seattle's proposed corporate aviation facility north of South 176th Street, and another challenging a requested rezone of 30 acres of westside greenbelt land near Sea-Tac Airport. The committee reaffirms its position that no airport development should proceed without proper community safeguards, and addresses rumors about residents' legal liability for the committee's activities. The newsletter also notes that the State Legislature approved legislation allowing the Port of Seattle to extend the airport impact zone to include the Hilltop area.

In this January 25, 1979 letter, Washington State Representative John Jovanovich (31st District) writes to Ms. Jean Pihlman explaining that the Sea-Tac Comprehensive Plan (STCP), adopted by the Port of Seattle and King County, primarily addresses the airport and its noise-impacted areas. He urges that citizen representatives on the Policy Advisory Committee — the body responsible for monitoring the plan — should come directly from the noise-impacted communities, so that their needs are properly understood by decision-makers.

In a July 27, 1978 letter to the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) chairman at Sea-Tac International Airport, the Highline Community Council president Dorothy Harper objected to a proposed reorganization that would reduce the Council's representative to a non-voting status. The Council argued that retaining a voting seat was essential to effectively represent Highline-area residents in matters related to the Port of Seattle and the Sea-Tac Communities Plan. The letter also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced membership on the PAC that equally reflects government, business, and residents' viewpoints.

King County Councilman Bob Greive wrote to constituents expressing his opposition to the relocation of Boeing's headquarters into an open space buffer zone near Sea-Tac Airport, an area designated under the 1977 Highline Community Plan to protect nearby residents from airport-related impacts. Despite his protests, the King County Council voted to amend the comprehensive plan and rezone the land from single-family residential to light manufacturing, with only three of nine council members opposing the measure. Greive vowed to continue fighting airport development that threatened surrounding neighborhoods and asked residents for their input on how to hold the Port Commission, federal government, and King County accountable to their promises regarding Sea-Tac.

King County Councilman Bob Greive wrote to constituents explaining his opposition to Boeing's headquarters relocation into an area designated as an open space buffer under the 1977 Highline Community Plan, which was meant to protect neighborhoods surrounding Sea-Tac Airport from noise and development impacts. Despite protests from nearby residents and three dissenting council votes, the majority approved an ordinance amending the comprehensive plan to allow rezoning from single-family residential to light manufacturing. Greive solicited public opinion on proposals to hold the Port Commission, federal government, and King County accountable for promises made regarding Sea-Tac's impact on surrounding communities.

In this September 1977 letter, Port of Seattle Executive Director Richard D. Ford responds to a community member's concerns about the Concorde supersonic jet, expressing alarm that the Federal Government amended its noise regulations to allow a noisier aircraft to operate at U.S. airports. Ford warns this decision undermines the Sea-Tac/Communities Plan, which was built on the expectation that aircraft would become progressively quieter over time. He calls on the federal government, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to aggressively pursue quieter engine technology as a necessary solution to airport noise problems.

In this May 26, 1977 letter, Port of Seattle Chairman Donald G. Shay responds to a request from the Westside Hilltop Survival Committee to make Barbara Summers a full voting member of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC). Shay explains that Summers currently serves as an alternate representative for the Westside area and expresses his personal opposition to expanding PAC membership solely to add another Westside representative. He agrees, however, to place the matter on the next PAC meeting agenda for consideration by the full membership.

In a May 1976 letter to King County Councilwoman Bernice Stern, Seattle Port Commission President Henry T. Simonson outlined two key decisions regarding land adjacent to Sea-Tac International Airport. The Port ruled out acquiring the 35-acre 'west acquisition area' due to high costs, excessive development expenses, and lack of foreseeable airport-related demand, while agreeing that any existing development there must follow carefully formulated guidelines. For the 'southeast conversion area' — 85 small homes in Lowe's Terrace Subdivision — the Port acknowledged that standard acoustic insulation treatment may not be cost-effective, and flagged the neighborhood as a candidate for a special purchase guarantee program to assist with gradual land-use conversion.

This April 1976 newsletter from the Highline Community Council covers several local government issues affecting the Highline District near Seattle, including recommendations for siting a new precinct station, county court, and community center. It also addresses the SeaTac Community Plan, a King County Charter Review proposal to potentially merge Metro and King County government, and a community service program placing court-ordered youth workers with nonprofit organizations. Residents were encouraged to participate in ongoing community planning efforts that would shape the area's future development.