TagNoise Remedy Program(52)

In February 1984, the Port of Seattle sent an update to concerned citizens about proposed noise remedy programs near Jackson International Airport (Sea-Tac), including land acquisition, purchase assurance, and sound insulation initiatives. A subcommittee recommended expanding the program boundaries to cover 275 additional residences under purchase assurance and 44 more under land acquisition, with criteria addressing airport-related development buffers and neighborhood continuity. The Port Commission was scheduled to review these recommendations at a Staff Review Session on February 28, 1984.

A 1982 Port of Seattle memorandum from Special Project Director Art Yoshioka outlines the scope of work for the Sea-Tac Noise Remedy Program Update, which aimed to address aircraft noise impacts on surrounding communities. Three planning strategies were evaluated, and the third was selected for its ability to complete an initial land acquisition phase within eight months—faster than the 12- or 24-month timelines of the alternatives. The chosen approach prioritized quickly acquiring properties in noise-impacted areas not yet covered by existing programs, fulfilling prior commitments to affected communities near Sea-Tac Airport.

A 1979 letter from Sea-Tac International Airport Manager Oris Dunham, Jr. to the Zone Three Committee accompanies a newsletter addressing community questions about airport operations and noise impact. The document explains key programs including the Interim Land Acquisition Program (approved 1974) to purchase properties within FAA-established flight path zones, and the federally funded Airport Development Assistance Program (ADAP), which draws from airline ticket taxes to fund noise remedy efforts. It also references the Sunset Recreational Plan, a coordinated initiative between the Port of Seattle and King County to address land use in the airport's north clear zone.

In an August 17, 1979 letter to the King County Council, Irene Jones, chairperson of Zone 3 meetings, conveyed strong opposition from local residents to developing a recreational park in the North Sea-Tac area near the airport. Attendees at a public meeting cited safety concerns, high noise levels, and potential tax burdens as reasons against the park plan, arguing that the land should first be fully acquired by the POS before any development is considered. Residents emphasized that their top priority was relief through noise-acquisition, purchase assurance, and sound insulation programs for their existing properties.

This document contains handwritten sign-in sheets and contact lists from a Zone 3 Community Meeting held on Tuesday, July 24, 1979, at the ERAC Building (156th & Ambaum), focused on noise remedy programs and land use in the North Acres area near Sea-Tac Airport. Attendees included Port of Seattle officials such as Airport Manager Otis Dunham, Director of Public Information Dave Warmuth, Planner Joe Sims, and King County Community Planner Dave Baugh, along with numerous local residents. The sheets record names, addresses, and phone numbers of participants, reflecting community engagement with airport noise and land-use concerns in the Seattle/Des Moines area during the late 1970s.