Airport Parking Garage Approved

By Harry Saltzgaver
Executive Editor

A slightly smaller parking garage, with rental cars moved elsewhere on airport property, was given initial approval Tuesday by the City Council.

On April 22, the council postponed ruling on the airport garage and an appeal by Mike Kowal and the residents’ group LBHUSHII of a Planning Commission approval for the site plan. That delay was to allow city staff a chance to explore the possibility of buying land from Boeing next to the now-idle 717 plant. That property currently is being used as a remote airport parking lot.

City Manager Pat West told the council Tuesday that Boeing was in negotiations with a private firm to sell the entire property, including the parking lot, and was not interested in selling to the city. He then unveiled a new proposal that would eliminate the underground level of the new parking garage, saving an estimated $15 million in construction and reducing the number of spaces to 3,300 — 700 fewer than the original plan.

That change would be made possible by moving the entire rental car operation to the complex on the north side of the airport access road, where Million Air and JetBlue currently have offices. The lease for that building is up in two years, and there would be space behind the building to park rental cars.

Kowal argued that the parking structure had changed significantly, and should be returned to both the Planning Commission and the Airport Advisory Commission for further review. Terry Jensen, another HUSHII member, argued that the garage still was 20% to 25% too large.

“The animal looks different every time we see it,” Kowal said. “Doesn’t this need to go back to Planning? … You’re ruling on this now, and we don’t know where we can appeal your decision to.”

Eighth District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich said she was concerned about displacing general aviation (private) aircraft currently stored behind the Million Air building. She said she was also worried that financing is based on current airline passenger traffic when she expects a slowdown in passengers due to the cost of jet fuel.

Christine Andersen, airport manager, said a full site study would take place before moving the rentals to the Millionaire facility. The new plan would offer 500 spaces for rental cars, up from the current 217 spots. The increase would allow companies to stop parking cars on nearby streets, Anderson said.

A more detailed financing plan is scheduled to go to council on May 20, she added.

“I want it known that I like the new design,” Gabelich said, “and if you can save $15 million, all the better. But I want to make sure that the general aviation folks are taken care of, that everyone is involved and aware of what’s happening.

“I generally want to follow the efforts of HUSHII (she is a former president of the group). But I also want to move this project forward to some sort of conclusion… When you come back with the financing, I hope you come back with financing for both buildings (the terminal and the garage), because one can’t move forward without the other.”

The site plan approval and denial of the appeal passed unanimously.