Item Number:       10a_order 
Meeting Date: September 14, 2021 

ORDER NO. 2021-09 
AN ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 
To support the delivery of a plan to inventory the ecological, land
use (including zoning), and recreational site conditions of the 55
(fifty-five) acres of Port-owned land within North SeaTac Park 
within 30 (thirty) days of this order. 
PROPOSED 
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 
INTRODUCTION 
The Port of Seattle and the city of SeaTac ('SeaTac') have a long history of collaboration on North
SeaTac Park. The Port began acquiring the property for noise and safety mitigation starting in
1970. The idea of a park was originally proposed by the Greater Highline Parks Board in 1976.
The initial lease with SeaTac for the 195 acres of recreational land was signed in 1994 and, with
an agreed-upon extension, will expire in 2070. Since then, the park has become a significant asset
and an  important airport operational  buffer to the surrounding community. Based on
amendments to the original lease with SeaTac, 55.58 acres is designated for redevelopment; of
those, approximately 44 acres are leased to SeaTac under a 180-day lease revocation clause. 
The Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) also intends to participate in the review of North SeaTac
park. The JAC is comprised of three SeaTac council members and two Port commissioners that 
meet regularly, and exchange information related to the 2018 Interlocal Agreement (ILA) 
between the City of SeaTac and the Port of Seattle, as designated in the ILA. The JAC met in
August 2021 and discussed a review of background materials surrounding North SeaTac Park
including jurisdiction, leases, and other matters. 
As part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) planning process, an approximate 11-acre
portion at the south end of North SeaTac Park was identified for Project L06 (a surface employee
parking lot). This portion of North SeaTac Park is largely forested with heavy concentrations of
invasive plant species and a system of trails used by bicyclists, runners, and walkers. The Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) recently stated that "L06 has been removed from the (Port of
Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan)," which means this portion of North SeaTac Park is no
longer in consideration to become a parking lot. This order requires an inventory of the 55.85
acres of North SeaTac Park habitat and community uses, as well of a review of other background
history and related documents. The order requires that no planned actions be taken regarding 
the future disposition of the park and leased properties until the inventory has been completed. 
TEXT OF THE ORDER 
The Port of Seattle Commission supports the delivery of a plan by the Executive Director to
inventory the attributes of the 55.58-acre parcel within the North SeaTac Park lease, including

Order No. 2021-09  North SeaTac Park Inventory

environmental (trees, wildlife, habitat), community, and recreational attributes of the 55.58 
acres of North SeaTac Park. 
The inventory plan should be coordinated in partnership with the city of SeaTac and the Joint
Advisory Committee and should reference recent materials developed by the Port and the City,
and their contractors, related to uses within the park. 
The Port of Seattle Commission also supports the recommendations of the Joint Advisory
Committee to restart the "Working Group," comprised of staff from the city of SeaTac and the
Port and to review and confirm the background and jurisdictional materials related to North
SeaTac Park. 
The Executive Director shall report to the Commission within 30 days with a plan that includes a
work program, a timeline, and a cost estimate to complete the inventory and review of
background materials, along with partnership terms with SeaTac. No actions shall be taken by 
the Port in regard to lot L06 until such plan is delivered. 
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER 
Port of Seattle Commissioners are aware that community members' use North SeaTac Park for
biking, running, leisure, and walking. The community also participates in land stewardship efforts
by removing invasive plant species and maintaining the landscaping. Community leaders want to
further steward the area and groom it for outdoor recreation purposes and as a healthy forest. 
Through the Airport Communities Ecology (ACE) Fund, the Port has a precedent of working with
airport-communities, nonprofit organizations, and researchers to produce assessments of treecanopies
and forest health conditions in parks and natural areas, as well as to develop plans to
restore forests and increase tree canopy. In a similar way, the inventory of resources and uses of 
North SeaTac Park will help the Port, SeaTac, and local community members gain a better sense
of the lay-of-the-land and inform future management decisions. 
Producing an inventory of resources and uses within this portion of North SeaTac Park will also
help guide the Port in meeting its goals and objectives found in the Century Agenda: 
Goal 4: Be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America 
Objective 11: Reduce air pollutants and carbon emissions 
Goal 6: Be a Highly Effective Public Agency 
Objective 17: Foster an environment of transparency, accountability, respect, leadership,
and fairness to give Port staff the tools to be exceptional public servants 
Objective 18: Partner and engage with external stakeholders to build healthy, safe, and
equitable communities 

Order No. 2021-09  North SeaTac Park Inventory