TagPort Of Seattle(1843)

A First Class Mail envelope sent from the Port of Seattle (P.O. Box 1209, Seattle, WA 98111) to Ms. Virginia Dana at 2648 S. 142nd Street, Seattle, Washington 98168, postmarked April 1980. The back of the envelope contains handwritten notes referencing federal funds, arguments about noise or airport-related matters, and mentions of purchasing or acquiring something through the Port of Seattle. The document appears to relate to community correspondence concerning Sea-Tac Airport noise policy or related compensation discussions.

This 1980 recreation master plan for North Sea-Tac Park was prepared by Jongejan/Gerrard/McNeal, Inc. as a joint planning effort between the Port of Seattle and King County. The plan identifies community recreational needs, assesses natural and manmade site constraints including airport noise impacts, and proposes development guidelines for the park adjacent to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It was described at the time as a pioneering example of airport-adjacent land use planning at the national level.

In late 1979, community discussions around Sea-Tac International Airport's north clear zone focused on repurposing approximately 240 acres of noise-impacted land into a multi-use recreational park, featuring soccer fields, tennis courts, nature trails, a golf course, and a motorcycle training area. The Highline Recreation Council unanimously endorsed the North Sea-Tac Park Plan (Sunset Plan), while a separate initiative proposed converting the closed Sunset Junior High School into a regional government records and archives center. Both plans reflect broader efforts to find productive uses for land rendered uninhabitable by airport noise, with funding and community engagement identified as key challenges.

A November 1979 FAA letter to the Port of Seattle expresses support for a 'Modified Passive 2' conceptual plan for the proposed North Sea-Tac Park, while urging that any final park plan carefully weigh adverse impacts on adjacent residential neighborhoods and airport operations. The letter emphasizes that residents in the immediate study area should have meaningful input into the final park plan, and calls for close collaboration among the Port, King County, consultants, and citizens to minimize conflicts between park uses and the unique challenges posed by proximity to a major airport.

A September 1979 letter from Port of Seattle Management Intern James D. Branch to Virginia Dana, a member of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) at Sea-Tac International Airport, requesting her participation in a confidential attitude survey about the committee. Branch explains that he has been studying PAC's history, reviewing past minutes, and interviewing Port staff, and is now seeking input directly from current committee members via a 13-question evaluation sheet. Responses received before the October meeting would be compiled into a formal report of findings from all PAC members.

A memorandum from James Branch documenting 23 questions raised by the public at a Zone Three Steering Committee meeting regarding airport development, noise issues, land acquisition programs, and community concerns around Sea-Tac Airport. Questions cover topics including flight patterns, noise abatement, land use planning, and community impacts.

At a June 5, 1979 meeting, the Port of Seattle Hardship Acquisition Committee unanimously recommended the early purchase of Parcel A-447, owned by Mrs. Carrie Cochrane, under special hardship acquisition criteria. The Committee determined that Mrs. Cochrane's physical and financial condition could worsen if she remained in her current home until the regularly scheduled acquisition, approximately two years away. The recommendation was signed by Committee Chairperson W. Thomas Ruttkay on July 20, 1979.

A 1979 public meeting notice from Jongejan/Gerrard Associates, Landscape Architects, inviting community members to participate in the North End Clear Zone Recreation Master Plan near Sea-Tac Airport. The kickoff meeting was held on July 10, 1979, at Glacier High School Cafeteria, where residents could share ideas about recreational use of the acquisition area north of Sea-Tac Airport and volunteer to work with consultants, the Port of Seattle, and King County. Additional public meetings were planned for August and October 1979 as part of the biweekly planning process.