Some perspective on protecting Sanderson Field

In the late 1980s the Port of Shelton was unsuccessful in an attempt to prevent Shelton Middle School from being built near the approach path to Sanderson Field, as was the case with location of the High School previously. Again in the early 2000s the Port did not succeed in its attempt to prevent a housing development directly under the airport’s instrument approach path. As a result, the County initiated an Airport Overlay planning process to protect that Essential Public Facility from further inappropriate encroachment.

In 2005 the County, City and Port all adopted that Airport Overlay Plan with the assumption that zoning around Sanderson Field would remain as it exited at the time. Even though that zoning remains today, it is anything but perfect airport protection. However, it is helpful and does not unduly restrict either residential or commercial development within a mile of the airport.

In 2007 Mr. Hall, who owns about 700 acres west of Highway 101 and south of Sanderson Field, proposed to rezone 160 acres from Industrial/Commercial to Residential. The Port objects to that rezone because it violates the intent of the Airport Overlay Plan by allowing over 300 new houses to be built right under the flight path of the airport’s most active runway. That flight pattern has been in use since 1943 when the US Army built the airfield. The above facts are a matter of public record.

Both Mr. Hall and Mr. Davis in their 14 Sept. postings here, suggest that the Port is somehow obstructing economic development by opposing the Hall rezone proposal. THAT ACCUSATION IS PREPOSTEROUS. We specifically want the zoning left as it is to allow business development as opposed to residential development on those 160 acres. It is strange that Hall, Davis and the City are not also oriented toward business development as opposed to residential expansion on that property. After all, it is business development that leads to job creation and job creation that leads to economic recovery. What we don’t want to see is a rezone that would eliminate business development opportunities while at the same time allowing over 300 houses to be built in a location that will cause the owners aggravation as a result of aircraft noise overhead.

Jay Hupp