Planning 2011-04-28 Item 4 - Attachment B: Background Report

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Aerospace, including Boeing, represents the largest category of manufacturing. The decline in aerospace employment from 2000 -04 was much smaller in the Tukwila MIC than was the case regionally, and the rebound was notably stronger (thus the concentration of aerospace into MICs). Although aerospace, including the Boeing Company, had a larger presence in the MIC a couple decades ago, levels over the past decade appear to be relatively steady or increasing, even in light of two economic downturns. Although its total employment has declined by 19% between 1995 and 2010, Boeing remains by far the largest single employer and property owner in the MIC (as reported by Tukwila business licenses.) Three large employers, including Boeing, Group Health Cooperative and King County Metro transit facility provided 90% of jobs in the MIC in 2010, see Attachment D. The MIC has generally avoided incompatible retail expansion, but growth in the services sector merits further monitoring. WaRes Manufacturing jobs are the best paid in the MIC. In 2008, the average manufacturing wage ($95,087) was nearly twice that of a job in the service industry ($49,096), see Attachment E. Section 8: Permitting and Development Land Use Permits A total of approximately 200 land use decisions were issued between 1990 and 2010 in the MIC. Shoreline permits were approximately 15% of the total land use permits, see Attachment F. Approximately 50% of them were environmental reviews for development that was covered under SEPA Planned Action review document. Prepared in 1999, the SEPA Planned Action document anticipated and allowed for environmental impacts of future development by completing project level environmental review during the time that the MIC Plan was originally prepared. Building Permits Approximately 3000 building, mechanical, electrical and public works permits were issued in the MIC between 1990 and 2010. Changes in recording permit information over time make it difficult to draw clear conclusions about trends from the data, but the majority of the permits were for tenant improvements, mechanical upgrades, and similar improvements. Approximately 1% of development permits were issued for new construction. The highest -value permits were for projects involving improvements or new construction for Boeing Company facilities, the development of internet data centers, new construction for the Museum of Flight, and the future Raisbeck Aviation High School. The two former types of W: \Long Range Projects\MIC Study \Planning Commission \DraftM[CBackgroundRpt.doc Page 12 of 14