Diane Summerhays

2005-06-15
Port, Des Moines work together on business park plan

In June 2005, the Port of Seattle and the city of Des Moines — formerly legal adversaries over Sea-Tac Airport's third runway — unanimously agreed to collaborate on a proposed 75-acre Des Moines Creek Business Park on land south of the airport that was cleared of homes in the late 1980s as part of a noise mitigation program. Studies suggested the site was best suited for aviation-related or general industry, with potential uses including manufacturing, distribution, and retail. The partnership marked a significant shift in relations between the two parties, with construction potentially targeted for early 2007 pending approval of a conceptual master plan in early 2006.

CategoriesFrom The WebTagsCity Of Des Moines, Daily Journal Of Commerce, Des Moines Creek Business Park, Diane Summerhays, Port Of Seattle

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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