Is it reasonable that a crucial regional resource such as Portland International Airport (PDX) rely on a conditional use permit for its continued existence? Perhaps not – but that has been the case since the airport's inception in 1940.
Several Clark County residents and officials have joined a collaborative effort to remedy that situation by coming up with a long-range development plan called Airport Futures, which they hope will recognize PDX's role in the regional economy, emphasize the region's infrastructure and livability and finally change the airport's land use zoning from conditional to "allowed."
That zoning change, if and when it does occur, could facilitate future development at the airport, such as terminal expansion to the east, additional parking and the implementation of other recommendations through the Airport Futures process, according to Chris Corich, general manager for Long-Range Planning at PDX.
After three years of work, Airport Futures' 30-member Planning Advisory Group is now nearing completion of its mandate. And though the airport is located across state lines and is owned and overseen by the Port of Portland, planners have been eager to seek input from the Washington state side of the Columbia River.
Some of Clark County's representatives on the PAG include: vice chair Dave Smith, a retired Delta Airlines pilot and Vancouver resident; Laura Hudson, community planning manager for the city of Vancouver; Alan Hargrave, project manager at the Port of Vancouver and a Camas/Washougal resident; and Michael Sloan, a local landscape business owner and Vancouver resident.
"We may be the Port of Portland, but we impact Vancouver and they impact us. To not involve them would have been irresponsible," Corich said.
The new game plan
According to the working draft of the PAG's final report, the most significant findings regarding facilities requirements for PDX through 2035 were that a third parallel runway is not necessary during the planning period and that terminal and ground access requirements can continue to be satisfied within the existing terminal area.
"We think we can push a lot more traffic through the terminal we have, so we don't need these expansions at this time," Corich said.
Corich attributed part of the reason for these findings to technological advances that enable PDX to get more out of its existing space.
In particular, one innovation – electronic ticketing machines – stood out as a "game changer," according to Corich, because it allows passengers to bypass ticket counters, freeing up terminal space.
The Port is also exploring the possibility of airlines sharing gates, as well as improving the efficiency of security measures. And while the PAG estimates annual use of PDX to grow from today's 14 million passengers to an estimated 27 million in 2035, aircraft have gotten larger and are flying with fuller loads of passengers and cargo.
Although the existing airfield and passenger terminal area will continue to satisfy the aviation demand forecast through the planning period with operational and technological enhancements, the Port is considering many future development activities over the next decade, including roadway improvements and additional parking, rental car, general aviation and air cargo facilities.
What's all that noise?
The PAG's noise impact studies could affect residential development in Clark County.
Although the report recommends leaving Portland's 65 Day Night Level noise overlay boundary where it is today, the group supports a new noise overlay to include land within the lower-decibel 55 DNL contour – which would include a significant portion of property north of the Columbia River – for the limited purpose of noise disclosure for new residential development and redevelopment.
The PAG recommends that the disclosure should state that the dwelling unit is in an area subject to aircraft overflight by jets and other aircraft arriving and departing PDX and that some people may be bothered by the aircraft flying overhead.
"Noise is the biggest issue for Vancouver," said Sloan, one of the Clark County members of the Airport Futures board. "[But] PDX has done a tremendous amount of outreach [regarding noise impacts]. I've been impressed with that."
Finding the right balance
The PAG also focused on helping PDX balance competing priorities.
Corich said the Port's goal is to find the "sweet spot" between natural resources and the economic and social needs of the Port, regional businesses and the community-at-large, so that PDX can continue its role as a lynchpin in a bi-state regional economy.
That isn't an easy task. One of the most essential sectors of the airport's operations for Southwest Washington business owners, air cargo freight, might be the most environmentally disruptive. More so than passenger jets, air freight planes can cause noise impacts on nearby residents and migratory birds, even at night, according to Sloan, a resident of DuBois Park near the Columbia River in Vancouver.
"The airport means a lot to this region in many ways," Corich said. "But we're trying to have the lightest footprint on the environment as possible."
But at least one Clark County member of the board stressed the importance of air cargo traffic to the region's business desirability. "One of the reasons Vancouver can be attractive [to incoming businesses] is because it is easy to get to freight planes," Hudson said.
On the Airport Futures master plan, Corich said he hoped it would be approved by the Port of Portland commission and the city of Portland by September. Once the plan is approved, the PAG will morph into the PDX Community Advisory Committee, which will include representatives from the Port Commission, Portland and Vancouver city councils. The CAC's mission includes providing ongoing input to the Port by supporting collaborative public dialogue, as well as assisting sustainability measures at PDX.
PDX by the numbers
- Portland International Airport encompasses approximately 3,400 acres.
- As of 2006, the Airport Futures planning area had more than 200 identified firms, with total employment of more than 10,300 workers.
- 35.6 percent of PDX's employees reside in Southwest Washington.
- A total of 5.9 million passengers originated from the Portland-Vancouver Region in 2006.
- 22.5 percent of PDX passengers live in Southwest Washington.
- In terms of passengers, PDX was the 31st busiest airport in the United States, as of 2007.
- From 1976 to 2006, the number of PDX enplaned passengers increased an average of 4.9 percent per year.
- In terms of air cargo, PDX was the 24th busiest airport in the United States, as of 2007.
- From 1976 to 2007, PDX air cargo tonnage increased an average of 5.1 percent per year.
Source: "Aviation Demand Forecasts," Sept. 2008, Port of Portland/Jacobs Consultancy & "Airport Futures Final Report," Feb. 2010, PAG.
