TagSeattle Times(281)

In April 1980, the Port of Seattle received a $6.1 million federal grant to acquire approximately 700 properties near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of a noise-mitigation land acquisition program. The funding, which included $11.1 million in federal money and $5.3 million in port funds drawn from airline fees, was intended to reduce neighborhood noise impacts. Port commissioners approved a 22 percent increase in fees for commercial vessels at Fishermen's Terminal as part of the same broader budget discussion.

A $8 million federal grant was announced to continue the Seattle-Tacoma Airport land acquisition program, helping purchase homes and property in FAA-designated 'clear zones' north and south of the airport. The funding, combined with local matching money, allows the airport noise-mitigation program to stay on schedule, though officials noted the federal amount fell short of the $12 million originally requested. Properties in the affected areas must be cleared, with an estimated 281 additional homes slated for acquisition in 1981.

A 1980 Seattle Times article reports on community concerns over airport noise near Sea-Tac, detailing efforts by a commission to finalize airport clear zone plans and address noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods including Burien, North Hill, and Normandy Park. Debate centered on where the Phase IV noise boundaries should be drawn, with officials disagreeing over whether South 216th Street or the city limit should serve as the southern boundary. The article highlights ongoing tensions between residents, local governments, and the Port of Seattle over land acquisition and noise mitigation strategies.

A 1980 Seattle Times article reports that federal and state officials revived a proposal to build a new small-craft general-aviation airport on the Eastside of King County, with three potential sites identified near Snoqualmie Falls and Fall City. The FAA offered to fund up to 80% of the estimated $4.5 million construction cost, citing growing congestion at Sea-Tac Airport caused by the mixing of small private planes with large commercial jets. South King County residents, long burdened by airport noise and safety concerns, largely welcomed the idea, arguing that Eastside communities benefiting from aviation should share the responsibility for housing general-aviation facilities.

A 1980 Seattle Times article reports on a renewed proposal to build a small-craft general aviation airport on the Eastside of King County, near the Snoqualmie-Fall City area, to relieve congestion at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The plan, revived by the Federal Aviation Administration and supported by state and county officials, aimed to accommodate growing demand for aviation facilities on the Eastside, where residents had long opposed having an airport in their backyards. South King County residents and community groups also weighed in, debating noise, land use, and who should bear responsibility for managing smaller general-aviation aircraft traffic in the region.

A $8 million federal grant was announced to fund Phase IV of the Airport Development Assistance Program (A.D.A.P.) near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, aimed at purchasing homes and property in FAA-designated 'clear zones' north and south of the airport where noise from overhead planes is a persistent problem. The grant, combined with matching funds, brings total A.D.A.P. funding to $11.1 million, helping to relocate roughly 100 homes per year and address long-standing land-use conflicts caused by aircraft noise. Community leaders and senators emphasized that while progress is being made, significant work remains to fully clear and buffer the affected residential areas.

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.