Times/News Correspondent

The Port of Seattle will soon begin its acquisition of 17 North Burien homes, Burien City Council members were told Aug. 15.

Port Director of Community Development Diane Summerhays said during a status report that the first phase of this federally funded process involves contacting those residents.

This effort will be launched in the next couple of weeks.

Working carefully with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on determining the acquisition criteria for the expansion of the Sea-Tac International Airport, the Port earlier established guidelines that are different from a typical acquisition process, Summerhays noted.

"The first criteria is that [residents] have to be in a special transition area that is more of the runway protection zone," she said.

There can't be any development in that zone because of operational impacts to people who live there and potential safety impacts to aircraft.

The other criterion for acquisition is highly technical, declared Summerhays, but the difference between a typical process and the one for these North Burien homes is the aircraft noise contour.

Noting this can be confusing, Summerhays said, "We expect to be talking to people about this because they will want to know why so-and-so is bought but so-and-so isn't."

Letters will be sent out to Phase I residents to enhance their understanding.

Council members also heard a status report on Town Square by Dan Rosenfeld, principal of Urban Partners, the city's private developer for the project.

"It has been 50 days since the council has approved and executed the design agreement for this property," Rosenfeld noted. And since then, Urban Partners has continued to have two multi-screen theater operators interested in downtown Burien.

"We're talking with both of them and although there's no commitment or guarantee that they will be part of the project, we think by [the next meeting] we should have a definitive determination on their continued interest," he added.

Urban Partners is preparing an alternative plan that involves development of additional condominiums and ground-level retail space if plans for a cinema in Town Square fall through.

"Perhaps the most significant element of our report is the progress we've made regarding condominium development," continued Rosenfeld.

"We heard very clearly from both the elected leaders and the community interest [and] in response we have completed a market study and initial draft, which is highly encouraging with regard to condominium ownership."

These results, along with any other updates, will be presented at a Sept. 15 open house on Town Square from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The public will have an opportunity to ask discuss questions and discuss concerns with city officials and representatives of Urban Partners.