TagSea-Tac Airport(551)

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.

A 1978 internal memo from Ed Parks to Policy Advisory Committee Members announces a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, 1978, at 2:00 p.m. in the Airport Conference Room at Sea-Tac International Airport. The meeting, organized as a joint effort of the Port of Seattle and King County, covers four agenda items: an update on Policy Advisory Committee Reorganization, Sea-Tac Westside Developments, the King County Capital Improvement Program for 1979, and Noise Remedy Programs.

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.

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.

In a May 1976 letter to King County Councilwoman Bernice Stern, Seattle Port Commission President Henry T. Simonson outlined two key decisions regarding land adjacent to Sea-Tac International Airport. The Port ruled out acquiring the 35-acre 'west acquisition area' due to high costs, excessive development expenses, and lack of foreseeable airport-related demand, while agreeing that any existing development there must follow carefully formulated guidelines. For the 'southeast conversion area' — 85 small homes in Lowe's Terrace Subdivision — the Port acknowledged that standard acoustic insulation treatment may not be cost-effective, and flagged the neighborhood as a candidate for a special purchase guarantee program to assist with gradual land-use conversion.

This document outlines a development concept addressing the relationship between Sea-Tac International Airport and its surrounding communities. While the airport contributes significantly to the regional economy—supporting over 15,200 jobs and $390 million in annual business activity—local residents have long struggled with aircraft noise, uncertainty about airport expansion, and the impact on property values and neighborhood character. The concept seeks to find greater compatibility between the airport's growth and the needs of the communities it affects.

This 1975 document shows the location of airline tenants at Sea-Tac International Airport, mapping gate assignments across the airport's concourses and satellite terminals. Airlines listed include Alaska, Braniff, Continental, Eastern, Hughes Airwest, Northwest, Pan Am, Pacific West, SAS, United Air Lines, and Western. The map identifies each carrier's specific gate numbers within Concourses B and C, the North and South Satellites, and other terminal areas.

In September 1973, the Port of Seattle outlined a plan to acquire approximately 610 residential properties and 75 acres of open land surrounding Sea-Tac International Airport to create expanded clear zones north and south of the runways. The total estimated property cost was $15.46 million, with the Port anticipating over $8 million in federal FAA assistance and covering the remainder from airport revenues between 1974 and 1977. Under the best-case scenario, actual land acquisition could not begin until after July 1, 1974, following required environmental impact statements, housing relocation plans, and a multi-month FAA review process.