TagLand Use(178)

Washington's Supreme Court unanimously upheld King County's approval of Boeing's plan to build corporate headquarters on a 30-acre site near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, rejecting challenges from a local citizens' group. The court ruled the approval was a legislative action rather than a quasi-judicial rezone, meaning the appearance-of-fairness doctrine did not apply, even though two County Council members had accepted campaign contributions from Boeing employees. The ruling also addressed a separate Snohomish County case, allowing environmental-impact statements for two large residential developments to be submitted piecemeal.

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Boeing Headquarters rezone Westside

This paper by Edward P. Gorski examines how local governments can achieve noise-compatible land use planning through two main approaches: administrative techniques that officials and planners can use to require or encourage noise compatibility, and physical methods available to architects, designers, and builders to reduce noise impacts. By considering noise at the source, along its path, and at the point of reception, planners can integrate noise control into broader environmental and community planning goals. The paper argues that this integrated approach can improve quality of life in communities affected by noise sources such as airports.