HeraldNet: More gain than pain for Everett from Paine Field flights



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The Petri Dish

July 17, 2008

More gain than pain for Everett from Paine Field flights

Posted at 8:02 am by Jerry Cornfield

In today’s paper are details of a new study that concludes the city of Everett could reap loads of benefits from commercial jets providing passenger service in and out of Paine Field.

The report’s executive summary predicted minimal impact on values of homes near the airport and suggested ways of dealing with negative effects on the quality of life of residents such as increased noise from the jets.

The city paid $70,000 to Thomas/Lane & Associates for the work.

This firm did not present quite the same view when it considered how Sea-Tac International Airport affects the value of homes in its neighboring communities.

Here’s the opening line of that 1998 study:

Airports generate noise, visual blight, surface traffic congestion, possible air pollution and other effects which cause most households to consider residential areas immediately surrounding them less desirable places to live.

It concludes:

The argument advanced here is simply that living under the “shadow” of an airport’s flight paths for approaching/departing aircraft will reduce the real estate market valuation of a residence.

Since noise effects, health effects, visual blight, or other possible impacts are inseparably bundled when viewed from the perspective of a home owner experiencing approaching/departing aircraft directly over head, the important distinction is not between different noise level contours within which housing units are located, but between a residential housing unit’s distance from being directly under the flight track of approaching and departing aircraft.

Sea-Tac and Paine Field are two very different airports today as they were then. That may explain the noticeably different tone and perspective on the potential impacts of the airports on their respective communities.

Or maybe it has to do with who pays for the product.

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Paine Field
I work across the street from Boeing at Paine Field and know just how noisey it is.

Yawn...

People complain that commercial flights will devalue their property, but what about folks who have to travel for a living? They would flock to those homes if it was a ten minute drive to the terminal instead of 90 minutes to Sea-Tac. Also, my job takes me into peoples homes and businesses all day long. Unless you have the windows open (and most businesses and many of these home have AC), you don't hear anything.

I can also speak from experience on this. During the time I lived in Virginia Beach, VA, our house was in the glide path for Oceana Naval Air Station. We had A-6 Intruders, F-14 Tomcats, F/A-18 Hornets and all sorts of transport aircraft flying overhead all day long. Yes, there were even the occasional night-time exercises, but the military was a good neighbor and announced these ahead of schedule. We didn't notice the daytime flights after the first few weeks living there and the night op's never bothered us as I can recall. In the morning, we would wake up and go downstairs, straightening up the pictures on the wall... The F-14's always were LOUD! At night, we'd do the same thing.

So, the neighbors of Paine Field have little to complain about, and should look at this as the opportunity that it is. Even over here in Lake Stevens, we get aircraft from Arlington and Paine Field flying overhead, but you don't see us complaining.
Jeff Craig | Jul 20, 2008 1:49 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

Commuter flights
I live pretty close to Paine Field and think it would be great to have commuter flights in Snohomish County. If Snohomish county wants to think long term, a commuter airport is going to be a must-have in the near future. This could really help bolster the economy and increase interest and access to the area. Plus, it would be great to not have to drive to Seatac to fly anywhere.
meyman3 | Jul 18, 2008 8:33 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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