HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-009 ORDINANCE, NO. 2012-009
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING UPDATES AND REVISIONS
TO THE CITY OF ARLINGTON
AIRPORT MASTER PLAN AND RELATED CHANGES TO
THE ARLINGTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Arlington engaged the services of the Barnard Dunkelberg
Companyto prepare an update to the City of Arlington's Airport Master Plan (Plan); and
WHEREAS, City staff participated in the preparation and review of the Plan along with
members of the public, and state and federal agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Municipal Airport Airport Master Plan Update dated January
2012, has been reviewed by the City Airport Commission and the Arlington City Council, which
held a public hearing concerning the plan update; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the plan should be adopted as the most current
City of Arlington airport master plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arlington's Comprehensive Plan requires updates as a result of
changes in the Airport Master Plan;
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Adoption. The City of Arlington hereby adopts the Arlington Municipal
Airport Airport Master Plan Update, prepared by Barnard Dunkelberg Company and dated
January 2012. A copy of said plan shall be on file in the City Clerk's office.
Section 2. Section 11.4.1.6 of the Arlington Comprehensive Plan shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
11.4.1.E Airport
The Arlington Municipal Airport is part of the national system of airports, as well as of
the transportation infrastructure serving the City of Arlington, Snohomish County, and
the northern portion of the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area.
The Airport is located north of the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area, approximately
three (3) miles southwest of the Arlington Central Business District (CBD),
Ordinance No. 2012-009 1
approximately one-third (0.3) of a mile from the Highway Commercial District, and
twelve (12) miles north of the City of Everett. It is owned and operated by the City of
Arlington and is contained within the corporate boundaries of the City.
The airport is 1,200 acres and includes light industrial, general industrial, business park
flightline, commercial, and public land uses, in addition to the aviation operations. The
majority of the existing general aviation facilities are located along the east side of
Runway 16/34, between 59th Avenue NE and Taxiway "A". This part of the airport is
developed with aircraft storage facilities, including over 400 T-hangars and apron area to
accommodate over eighty tiedown spaces. The City of Arlington owns 78 of the existing
T-hangars. There are also many Fixed Base Operator (FBO), maintenance, and
individually owned aircraft storage hangars throughout this area.
Additional general aviation,facilities are developing along the south side of Runway
11/29, adjacent to the east end of the runway. These facilities include tiedown apron
space for approximately 30 aircraft and complexes of 52 corporate hangars and 17 new
business-related aircraft storage hangars. The existing ultra-light hangar complex is in the
northwest quadrant of the airport and has storage for approximately 62 aircraft.
There are approximately 569 aircraft based at the airport (including 2 helicopters, 45
gliders, and 60 ultralights). The airport's hangar occupancy rate is 100 percent currently.
There is significant demand for the additional aircraft storage facilities (approximately 50
aircraft owners are on file requesting space).
The Airport is home to one of the largest experimental aircraft gatherings, the Arlington
Fly-In. It has sufficient area to accommodate both aviation and non-aviation development
in an airport industrial park in addition to the area used for the Arlington Fly-In. The
industrial park is approximately 102 acres and is located east of 59th Avenue NE, within
the northeast quadrant.
There are approximately 170 businesses on airport property that lease land and/or
facilities from the City. Approximately 25% of these businesses involve aviation or
aviation-related uses associated with the airport. The remaining businesses are non-
aviation uses in the Industrial Park, Business Park and the Commercial zones on the
airport.
The GMA recognizes airports in two ways. Airports are considered essential public
facilities under the GMA (RCW 36.70A.200) and cities are required to plan accordingly
to protect them. In addition, RCW 36.70A.510 recognizes the potential conflict between
airports and surrounding uses and directs that every county, city and town shall
discourage siting of incompatible uses next to airports.
Ordinance No. 2012-009 2
Arlington's Municipal Code permits airports and aviation-related uses in the Aviation
Flightline zoning district, thereby addressing the requirements of RCW 36.70A.200, Es-
sential Public Facilities. To address the potential conflict between the airport and other
land uses, the City has adopted an Airport Protection ordinance and future zoning should
be compatible with the airport operations.
Section 3. Table 11-4 of the capital facilities element of the Arlington
Comprehensive Plan shall be and hereby is amended as shown on the attached Exhibit "A".
Section 4. Section 12.6 of the Arlington Comprehensive Plan shall be and and hereby
is amended to read as follows:
12.6 AIRPORT MASTER PLAN
The Arlington City Council adopted the Arlington Municipal Airport Master Plan in
1995. The Master Plan was updated in 2002 and again in 2012. Its revision cycle is every
five to six years. The report determined the short-, intermediate-, and long-range needs
for facilities at Arlington Municipal Airport.
The planned improvements recommended therein were intended to:
• Allow Arlington Municipal Airport to continue to serve the general
aviation/corporate and aviation-related needs of the area.
• Continue to provide those facilities needed to serve the traditional users of the
Airport.
• Permit the continued development of the Airport to serve potential increases in
the services required.
• Maintain a high degree of flexibility in design so that future changes in the
designation of the Airport and needs of potential users can be accommodated.
The Master Plan report includes a determination of the anticipated growth to be
experienced at Arlington Municipal Airport and an evaluation of the ability of the
existing facilities to accommodate this demand.
In preparing the scope and direction for the Master Plan, it was determined that given the
context which the Arlington Airport is currently operating within, it would be necessary
to analyze four different operational alternatives, or roles, which the Airport might be
expected to serve over the specified planning period. The four roles, which were analyzed
as part of this master planning effort included:
• Remaining in its traditional role as a general aviation-only facility. The Airport
would then respond to the forecasted needs of the user group.
• Expanding the role of the Airport to provide regional commuter passenger
service. The Airport would assume regional commuter passenger service and
Ordinance No. 2012-009 3
existing facilities would be provided to accommodate aircraft such as the
Fairchild Metroliner, or Dornier 328.
• Promoting the Airport as an aviation-related industrial facility. The Airport
would assume an industrial air cargo role and would provide the necessary
facilities to accommodate aircraft such as the Bae 146-100 cargo aircraft.
• Promoting the Airport as a business and corporate aviation facility. The Airport
would assume a business/corporate role and would provide the necessary
improvements to accommodate aircraft such as the IAI 1125 Westwind business
j et,
The traditional role of the Arlington Municipal Airport is that of a general aviation (GA)
facility. This was determined after consideration of all of the data and analyses presented
during the preceding elements of the Master Plan update. In addition, and after much
consideration, the Arlington Master Plan Advisory Committee unanimously chose the
role to remain as a traditional general aviation airport, including support of
business/corporate aircraft uses. The forecasts generated for the preferred scenarios were
then used to determine whether or not existing facilities at the Airport would be sufficient
to accommodate the forecast growth activity. The Advisory Committee's
recommendations were presented to both the Arlington Airport Commission and the
Arlington City Council for review and approval. The Commission and the Council both
voted unanimously in support of the Advisory Committee's recommendations, and the
Airport Layout Plan was further refined to support these decisions. Hence, the Airport
remains in its traditional GA role and existing facilities will respond to the forecasted
needs of the user group.
The Master Plan is comprised of the following;
• Airport Activity Forecasts
• Facility Requirements
• Development Concepts and Alternative Analysis
• Airport Environs Land Use Plan and Noise Analysis
• Airport Plans and Development Program
Forecasting is the key element in the planning process. Forecasts are essential for
analyzing existing airport facilities and identifying future needs and requirements for
these facilities. Historic and existing airport activity plays an important role in
determining future activity. Historically, the socioeconomic conditions of a particular
region impact aviation activity within that region. Local and itinerant operations as well
as based aircraft at the field help to project future operations. The amount and kind of
aviation activity occurring at an airport is dependent upon many factors, but are usually
reflective of the services available to aircraft operators, the businesses located on the
airport or within the community, and the general economic conditions prevalent within
Ordinance No. 2012-009 4
the surrounding area. The most often analyzed indicators are population, employment,
and income.
The ability of an airport to accommodate the existing and forecasted aviation activity is
primarily a function of the major aircraft operating surfaces that compose the facility and
the configuration of those surfaces (runways and taxiways). Facility requirements are also
related to and considered in conjunction with weather conditions, the surrounding
airspace, the availability and type of navigational facilities, and the type and amount of
landside access.
Development Concepts and Recommendations are presented in the Master Plan in terms
of both their concept and reasoning. Therefore, several basic assumptions have been
established, which are intended to direct the future expansion of airport development.
These assumptions are supported by the aviation activity forecasts and include a
commitment for continued Airport expansion, which supports the need of the region and
thus generates economic development.
The Airport Environs Land Use Plan and Noise Analysis was developed due to the
following, The relationship between airports and surrounding land uses is a very sensitive
issue in most communities today. Hence, it must be carefully monitored and regulated to
avoid future airport/community conflicts. Land use planning considerations set forth in
this document are intended to present clear and concise recommendations regarding the
ownership and development of land within the Arlington Municipal Airport influence
area. Interested parties would include homeowners and buyers, homebuilders, developers,
area representatives, and local jurisdiction having land use control authority.
The two primary issues associated with land use planning in the vicinity of airports are
safety and noise. The issue of safety pertains to both public on the ground and the public
involved with the flight operation. The issue of noise is related to the operation of an
aircraft and its impact upon the surrounding influence area of the airport.
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), requires that the comprehensive
plan of each county and city that plan under the GMA, include a process for identifying
and siting essential public facilities. Airports are designated as essential public facilities
within the State of Washington; therefore, the implementation of both land use and
development controls is vested within the authority of local city, county, or state
governments and they are responsible for ensuring compatible land use and appropriate
zoning requirements around airports.
Under the Airport Plans and Development Program, the plan for the future development
of Arlington Municipal Airport has evolved from an analysis of numerous considerations.
Among these are: aviation demand, aviation activity forecasts, aircraft operational
Ordinance No. 2012-009 5
characteristics, facility requirements, and environmental considerations. In addition, the
general direction or thrust of future airport development, as expressed by the City of
Arlington and as characterized in the statement of goals, served as a basis for this airport
planning process.
Section 5. Arlington Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies, Policy PL-17.1 shall
be modified to read as follows:
Promote a compatible relationship between the airport operations and surrounding land
uses through the application of proper zoning and the Airport Protection ordinance.
Section 6. Arlington Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies, Policy PL-17.5 shall
be modified to read as follows:
Implement the Airport Protection District to protect aviation interests by applying FAA
and WSDOT policies and land use restrictions.
Section 7. Arlington Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies, Policy PL-25.4 shall
be deleted in its entirety.
Section 8. Severability. If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance
should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other
section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance.
Section 9. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect five (5) days after its
publication as provided by law.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL and approved by the mayor at a regular meeting
thereof on the 2 q�- day of May, 2012,
CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON
C—--Jc/41 J
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor
Ordinance No. 2012-009 6
ATTE S PAUTHENT I C ATE D:
Kristin 3• ntield, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM;
r -
Ste en J. P iI , Cit ttorney
Ordinance No. 2012-009 7
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
1, Kristin Banfield, being the duly appointed and acting Clerk of the City of Arlington,
Washington, a municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance #2012-009
was approved at the May 21, 2012 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE #2012-009
"AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING UPDATES AND REVISIONS
TO THE CITY OF ARLINGTON AIRPORT MASTER PLAN
AND RELATED CHANGES TO THE ARLINGTON
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 23 d day of May, 2012.
Kristi Banfield
City Clerk for the City of Arlington
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION
You are hereby notified that on May 21, 2012, the City Council of the City of Arlington,
Washington, did adopt Ordinance No. 2012-009 entitled,
"AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING UPDATES AND REVISIONS
TO THE CITY OF ARLINGTON AIRPORT MASTER PLAN
AND RELATED CHANGES TO THE ARLINGTON
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN"
This ordinance is effective five days from its passage and publication.
The full text of the ordinance is available to interested persons and will be mailed upon
request.
Kristin ianfield
City Clerk
City of Arlington