TagSea-Tac Airport(2010)

This 1978 background report, prepared for the Washington State House of Representatives, examines the potential impact of allowing Concorde supersonic jet flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac). It finds that even one Concorde flight per day would expose an additional 1,000 residents to severe aircraft noise and could increase the Port of Seattle's property acquisition costs by $10–15 million. The report also explores the legal boundaries of airport noise regulations following a landmark court case that affirmed airport proprietors may set their own noise rules, provided those rules are reasonable, non-arbitrary, and non-discriminatory.

King County Councilman Bob Greive wrote to constituents explaining his opposition to Boeing's headquarters relocation into an area designated as an open space buffer under the 1977 Highline Community Plan, which was meant to protect neighborhoods surrounding Sea-Tac Airport from noise and development impacts. Despite protests from nearby residents and three dissenting council votes, the majority approved an ordinance amending the comprehensive plan to allow rezoning from single-family residential to light manufacturing. Greive solicited public opinion on proposals to hold the Port Commission, federal government, and King County accountable for promises made regarding Sea-Tac's impact on surrounding communities.

King County Councilman Bob Greive wrote to constituents expressing his opposition to the relocation of Boeing's headquarters into an open space buffer zone near Sea-Tac Airport, an area designated under the 1977 Highline Community Plan to protect nearby residents from airport-related impacts. Despite his protests, the King County Council voted to amend the comprehensive plan and rezone the land from single-family residential to light manufacturing, with only three of nine council members opposing the measure. Greive vowed to continue fighting airport development that threatened surrounding neighborhoods and asked residents for their input on how to hold the Port Commission, federal government, and King County accountable to their promises regarding Sea-Tac.

In this September 1977 letter, Port of Seattle Executive Director Richard D. Ford responds to a community member's concerns about the Concorde supersonic jet, expressing alarm that the Federal Government amended its noise regulations to allow a noisier aircraft to operate at U.S. airports. Ford warns this decision undermines the Sea-Tac/Communities Plan, which was built on the expectation that aircraft would become progressively quieter over time. He calls on the federal government, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to aggressively pursue quieter engine technology as a necessary solution to airport noise problems.

In this May 26, 1977 letter, Port of Seattle Chairman Donald G. Shay responds to a request from the Westside Hilltop Survival Committee to make Barbara Summers a full voting member of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC). Shay explains that Summers currently serves as an alternate representative for the Westside area and expresses his personal opposition to expanding PAC membership solely to add another Westside representative. He agrees, however, to place the matter on the next PAC meeting agenda for consideration by the full membership.