Flight Corridor Safety Program - 200th Street So.

Airports around the country periodically must remove obstructions as trees and vegetation mature. If not removed, these trees either are or soon will grow tall enough to encroach upon the airport’s airspace and pose a risk to aircraft safety and the safety of the surrounding community in the case of an aircraft emergency. To help ensure safe aircraft takeoffs and landing Sea-Tac Airport, the Port of Seattle Flight Corridor Safety Program plans to remove obstructions, primarily trees, from around the runways.

View of the Southern End of the Sea-Tac Airport

In November 2016, SeaTac area residents gathered to express concern regarding the negative environmental impact this program would have on the surrounding area. The Port of Seattle Commissioners have responded to these community concerns by introducing plans that include replacing over-height trees in the Sea-Tac Airport flight corridor with native, lower-growing trees and shrubs and creating a $1 million fund for the citizens and communities of Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac to invest in environmental and ecological projects and programs.

The Port of Seattle will move forward with a plan that substantially reduces the number of trees to be removed to approximately 611 that are growing on Port property and will be replaced with approximately 1463 native, lower-growing trees, shrubs and flowers. Plans also include more community engagement before determining the removal and replanting approach for Port-owned property near S 200th St and 10th Ave S, where most of the over-height conifers are adjacent to residential properties.

The Port of Seattle will host an Open House to seek public input on the removal and replanting of the southern approaches along South 200th Street and will share information about the $1 million fund to be applied to environmental projects and programs within the surrounding impacted airport communities.

Port of Seattle Open House
Wednesday, Feb 1, 6 to 8PM
SeaTac Community Center Banquet Room
13735 – 24th Ave So, SeaTac 98168
Child Care will be available

For more information, please plan to attend this public forum or visit the Port of Seattle Website.

Public Safety Training on Angle Lake

City Council will review the proposed changes to SeaTac Municipal Code being introduced through Agenda Bill 4471: An ordinance to amend Parks Code allowing permitted approval to exceed posted speed limit on Angle Lake for the purpose of public safety training.


Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, the agency that now provides fire and emergency health services to the City of SeaTac, is requesting authorization to perform public safety training on Angle Lake up to twice per month or up to 26 times throughout the year.

The proposal is for the addition of a new Section (2.44.156) to existing SeaTac Municipal Code related to certain boating regulations on Angle Lake. This new amendment, if approved, will supersede the constraints established that govern Noise (SMC 8.05.360), Boat Speed limits (SMC 2.45.220), and Boat occupancy limits (SMC 2.45.260) and will waive these restrictions when annual permit is issued for  operations limited to public safety training purposes only.

On the surface, this looks like a reasonable request wanting to have emergency personnel familiar with service environments prior to any emergency need.  However, a select number of residents on the lake have frequently voiced opposition to this program sighting that the training operations create significant wake and causes concern for shoreline erosion. Noise is another concern and the opinion that residents have a proven track record that they are first responders in any emergency situation, responding far quicker that the time it would take to hook up the boat, dispatch it Angle Lake and launch. 

If approved, the Ordinance authorizes the Parks, Community Services and Programs Director to authorize a limited number (26 times) of public safety training events on Angle Lake through a special use permit, including boating speeds in excess of five (5) knots per hour.  The maximum speed of the training boats will be 20 mph with the claim being that this reduced speed will address concerns regarding wake on the water eliminating any shore erosion created from these training operations.  Training exercises will be conducted in the middle of the lake away from homes in an effort to reduce noise concerns. The Puget Sound R.F.A. currently uses Lake Washington at Gene Coulon Park in the City of Renton to conduct their training, which takes them out of our city limits. The other training option (Lake Meridian in Kent) is described as being an unfavorable travel distance from Station 45 where the rescue boat is currently housed.

If you have an opinion regarding this matter, please make your preferences known.  You will have opportunities to share your comments during public comments at the beginning of the Council Study Session on Tuesday, January 25th at 5 PM; or at the beginning of the Regular Council Session on Tuesday, February 14th at 7 PM; or by writing or calling members of the SeaTac City Council.

A Quick Look Back


Looking back on the last month of 2016, the Shore Club hosted three widely popular events:
We’ve uploaded numerous photos to each of these albums for you to peruse and enjoy.  Click on any of the hotlinks listed above to view the photos. Feel free to download for your own local storage library and/or share with friends and family via your favorite social media platform.

The ALSC Board will be meeting in February to establish our 2017 Event Dates. After which time we’ll update the Blog and add a downloadable, printable calendar so that you can be sure not to miss any of the upcoming fun in the next year.

Happy New Year!
See You Soon.