Decisions by the SeaTac Council affect the future of the city. Members are voted into office to look forward and make decisions that protect the interests of its citizens.

Much emphasis has been put on creating a pedestrian-friendly City Center and making the environment appealing for people who want to live and work here.

The Council is currently considering rezoning part of the Washington Memorial cemetery for more surface parking.

This is the "Gateway to the Northwest." Most residents agree that surface parking is a huge eyesore; acres of cars and windshields are just plain ugly.

When the current MasterPark Lot "C" was developed with access on International Boulevard the trees came down and there has been a definite increase in airport noise heading this way. If this is approved, airport noise will be heard even louder.

Once surface parking is installed, redeveloping it later probably won't happen in our lifetime. Twenty-five years turns into 40 with deals being extended or enhanced.

One development agreement between SeaTac and MasterPark required a lump sum payment due to SeaTac of around $500,000 should the surface parking continue past a certain date. This payment, to my knowledge, was not made and the requirement extended.

Then, MasterPark acquired additional property, vacated streets and built more surface parking at that location.

The landscape buffers currently required on surface parking lots don't provide adequate screening, especially on the front entrance side where the buffer is nonexistent.

There are currently long lines headed east on 160th waiting at the light at 160th and International Boulevard.

The port rental car facility under construction is going to add 4,900 parking stalls, which is already going to make traffic worse on 160th.

The additional traffic for this proposed 1,000-car lot will just add to this growing traffic nightmare.

MasterPark is pushing $650,000 in additional tax revenue as the carrot, much of which will go to the state and county, not SeaTac. In exchange, SeaTac gets six additional acres of blacktop and parked cars.

It will be an ocean of vehicles visible for all to see on International Boulevard-a blight on the community.

Where is the pride in stewardship of SeaTac's future? If this keeps up, who will want to live here?

I encourage a rejection of this proposed rezone for parking; there must be a better use for this land.

Parking structures built in the right locations with thoughtful design and landscaping would be more aesthetic and reduce the amount of unsightly surface parking in SeaTac.

Robin Loudon
Loudon Real Estate Inc.