At their September 26, 2024 meeting, the Des Moines City Council voted 7-0 to complete the sale of Tract C in exchange for $690,000 a connecting road between the existing complex and the expansion.
An amendment to the sale was made by Councilmember JC Harris setting aside 10% ($69,000) of the proceeds towards a City airport legal fund.
In explaining his decision to vote in favor of the sale, Harris said, “It is extremely complicated. None of us explained the process very well. I don’t think people believed it, but whether or not we approved that sale, made no difference to the project. There is a 2012 agreement with the Port covering the entire area that could not be changed with that transaction. Before the vote, we had exactly zero dollars set aside for the SAMP. Now we have $69,000. And we really need that money if we’re going to get anywhere in that fight. That was the best I could do. Hopefully we’ll get other chances to do something. But it’s up to the public now. The next opportunity to make a difference is October 18.”
The agreement Harris was referring to is the 2012 Des Moines Creek Business Park Port of Seattle Second Development Agreement , which obligated the entire area of Des Moines Creek West to the developer–regardless of Tract C.
A group of residents has filed a legal appeal of the SEPA ruling with the City’s Hearing Examiner scheduled for October 18.
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City Council to decide on Des Moines Creek West purchase from Port