County Council votes down proposed aviation history hub

Published 8:53 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2015

EVERETT — An aircraft collector’s dream of teaming up with Snohomish County to build a historic aviation hub at Paine Field didn’t fly with the County Council.

A 3-2 majority of the council voted Wednesday to turn down the idea that John Sessions first suggested two years ago to the day. The dissenters said they found the concept of the historic aviation campus intriguing, but questioned the prudence of giving up more than a dozen acres of Paine Field real estate for free or nominal rent. They said taxpayers would be better served by asking the full market rent for the land.

“The proposal: It is a great dream. It’s impressive,” Councilman Terry Ryan said. “However, Snohomish County doesn’t have unlimited space or land at the airport and frankly Snohomish County’s finances are very tight and it’s likely to get tighter soon.”

Ryan cited interest from three prospective tenants, including a letter of intent from the Boeing Co., to lease the same taxiway Kilo 6 area on the west side of the airport for parking unspecified airplanes. Boeing has parked 787s there in the past.

The land would command roughly $350,000 per year at regular rent.

Ryan joined with Councilman Ken Klein and Council Chairman Dave Somers to reject the proposal. Council members Brian Sullivan and Stephanie Wright supported it.

“This is a sad day and a lack of vision,” Sullivan said.

Sessions said he had been prepared to invest more than $40 million to build out five new buildings along taxiway Kilo 6.

The area is next to the Historic Flight Foundation, a museum on Bernie Webber Drive that Sessions created. He said he’s run out of exhibit space and wants to expand. His bigger plan also would have sought out other aircraft collections as well as restoration and educational facilities.

Sessions reported receiving interest from notable aircraft collections around the world. Though hesitant to drop names, he provided the County Council with a letter of support from the Royal Air Force Museum in the United Kingdom.

To attract world-class museums, “You have to be able to say there’s a real commitment by the landlord,” Sessions said.

The cost of the land would have been small, he reasoned, compared to the financial benefits the county could have reaped through an admissions tax, tourism and education for the community. He called it “a decision between a nickel now and a dollar later.”

He lamented after Wednesday’s hearing that it took such a long time for the idea to get shot down.

“We could’ve been working a year with some place that really wants us,” he said.

More than 20 people spoke at the hearing, most in favor of the proposal. They said it would boost tourism and inspire young people to pursue careers in aerospace. Leaders from the cities of Mukilteo, Everett, Snohomish, Arlington, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace submitted letters of support.

There were critics, though, among them airport tenants who said it would be unfair to give the aviation attractions a break on rent while other businesses and museums pay full price. Representatives from a corporate aircraft hangar spoke about their ongoing litigation with the Historic Flight Foundation over safety concerns and access to taxiways. They said they would support Sessions’ idea in another place under different conditions.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.