MORE ON THE PORT OF SHELTONSubmitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis Mason County Progressive
In his recent 9/4/11 editorial to the Mason County Daily News, Commissioner Hupp seems confused as to why his repeated assumptions are not being interpreted as fact. So let’s take another look at Mr. Hupp’s concerns.
Noise issues: Certified noise analysts hired by the city have proven ambient airport noise levels at the 160 acres in question fall well beneath annoyance levels.
Future noise related lawsuits filed against the Port: Here, Mr. Hupp ignores the existence of available legal mechanisms designed specifically to protect airports from noise related lawsuits brought by residents of new developments in perpetuity.
Relocate the development: Suggesting the developer abandon his request to rezone the 160 acres in question and build on adjacent land is much like asking the airport to move the runway just a couple of degrees to the north. Mr. Hupp is well aware that the layout of commercial/industrial/residential areas is critical to the success of a project of this magnitude; traffic patterns, aesthetics, topography, and a host of other components are inherently interdependent.
Port is bound by “contractual obligations” to the FAA: Mr. Hupp states that the Port is “contractually obligated to the FAA” to protect the airport, which implies the existence of a legal document containing specific language relative to the issue at hand. But the contractual obligation to which Mr. Hupp refers is more general, as stated in FAA Airport Compliance Manual, 5190.6B. Exactly what constitutes a “threat” to the airport is far too subjective and open to interpretation to serve as lynchpin of any opposition argument against the rezone.
In addition, legal action brought by the Port has already resulted in the City of Shelton being declared out of compliance by the Growth Management Board, placing the city out of contention for a much needed 20 year loan to improve infrastructure; it has also cost the taxpayers of Mason County hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
If the Port is successful in its lobbying efforts, not only will it have torpedoed economic growth in Mason County well into the future, but perhaps affect other counties as well.
Link to "Citizen Editorial" page at Mason County Daily News:
http://masoncountydailynews.com/voices/citizen-editorial
I hope you will submit this to the Journal as well.
ReplyDeleteAll of our citizens should be made aware of the economic LOSSES we are sustaining because the crazy old men at the Port don't care about citizens, or economic growth, or jobs, or anything besides their social security checks and their private airport (provided at taxpayer expense!).
Throw the bums (Hupp and Wallitner) out as soon as possible; and get rid of that uber-creepy executive director. What rock did he slither out from under anyway?