Islanders who are bothered by noise from air traffic over Vashon delivered a petition to the Port of Seattle last week, appealing for the island’s inclusion in a noise monitoring system to verify their claims.

David Goebel, who founded the group Vashon Island Fair Skies earlier this year, was joined by a contingent of approximately 20 islanders Wednesday, Dec. 5, to deliver a petition addressed to the Port of Seattle commissioners. The petition, signed by 673 Vashon residents, calls for the port to add two noise monitors on the north and south ends of the island, augmenting an existing system that collects data measuring the impact of air traffic noise from Federal Way to Mercer Island.

The petition was received by Mike Merritt, chief of staff for the port, who met with the group and expressed gratitude for their time and effort.

“The Port recognizes the impacts on Vashon and other communities in the region as aircraft operations increase, reflecting the rapid growth in our regional economy, and we are working with stakeholders to address those impacts,” Merritt said in a statement. “Installation of additional noise monitors will be reviewed carefully by the Port, with input from the community and our staff.”

Goebel said that his Fair Skies group, which is now awaiting 501 (c) (3) designation, will continue to represent themselves until a decision is reached, and long after.

“We’re going be following through with him,” he said.

Aircraft flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from the west currently follow a hyper-focused path over Vashon implemented by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiative called NextGen, a massive project intended to upgrade old technology while increasing flight safety and efficiency in the United States. Flights traveling at typically lower altitudes over Vashon on a descent to the airport have caused such disruption, Goebel says, that he can seldom stand being outside on his property. He noted that he believes adding the noise monitors on the island is a reasonable request of the Port. “It’s their duty and moral responsibility to their constituents,” he said.

Former islander Brigid Stackpool was in attendance at the port and said the noise level has always been of great concern to her.

“[Vashon] used to be a lovely, peaceful place,” she said. “It doesn’t exactly make me feel like I’m in this wonderful, pastoral, green-focused community anymore. They’ve taken that away.”

Stackpool believes that with consistent, accurate data obtained from the noise monitors, the port will have to advocate on the group’s behalf to the FAA, which could bring about changes that would reduce the impact of air traffic over Vashon. But she said it begins with islanders.

“It’s the only way that anything ever changes,” she said. “People have to remain persistent. It’s all about speaking up.

— Paul Rowley