Boeing Company Plans May Impact
Renton Airport and Boeing Field

As the result of Boeing Company plans for changes at its Renton plant, the City of Renton is looking at possible future uses of portions, or all, of the facility (which is adjacent to Renton Municipal Airport). While the Boeing Company says that it will continue manufacturing operations at Renton, the City study is considering a worst-case scenario, the complete shut-down of the Renton plant.  Currently, all of Boeing's 737 and 757 production planes are assembled at Renton and flown to KCIA for testing because Renton's runway is too short. So, a shut-down would result in significant changes at King County International Airport  (BFI) as well. According to the recent KCIA Part 150 Study, 95% of Boeing's flight operations forecast for 2005 at KCIA are due to 737 & 757 flight tests.

Boeing management announced last year that it will “consolidate” its Renton operations primarily to the west side of the site “to increase efficiencies”. Depending on the final consolidation plan, up to 75 acres of the site may be vacated. This would free-up valuable commercial land for other uses, & the Boeing Company has requested a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and zoning changes to its property.

Alex Pietsch, acting administrator for Renton’s Department of Economic Development, Neighborhoods & Strategic Planning, said that in order for the property to be redeveloped for a broader range of uses other than what is allowed today, a change in the City’s Comprehensive Plan is needed. An environmental review is now underway. Four different redevelopment alternatives on Boeing's 280-acre site & the Puget Sound Energy property adjacent to the north-eastern corner of Boeing's property will be studied. Two alternatives consider the continuation of Boeing's current operations with redevelopment of surplused property vacated by Boeing through its consolidation and modernization plan. The other two alternatives are redevelopment of the entire site.

"It is our hope that Boeing will always have a significant presence in Renton," Pietsch said. "This is why we are studying how redevelopment can fit with Boeing's current operations. But every city must plan thoughtfully for its future viability, which is why we are also looking at the property's potential if Boeing no longer retains a presence." It is anticipated the Draft EIS for this project will be completed in late July with a 30-day public comment period following. The Final EIS document, due in the Fall, can then be used in determining any zoning and Comprehensive Plan changes for the property.

For additional information about the planning process, phone Elizabeth Higgins, Senior Planner, at 425-430-6576.  Maps of the four alternatives & other information are available on the City’s website, http://www.ci.renton.wa.us/—click on Departments, then on Economic Development … and then on Boeing Renton Site EIS under the heading Strategic Planning.