Burien City Council members stood their ground on May 7, voting 5-1 not to revisit a long-standing three-party agreement to close the Lora Lake Apartments in June.

The council acted despite overwhelming public comment to keep the 234-unit affordable housing complex open.

"One of the reasons we became a city was in response to the amount of multi-family housing that was being imposed on our area by King County," Councilwoman Sue Blazak said.

"So it doesn't sit well with me that now the King County Housing Authority is trying to dictate where and how much multi family housing we should have in our city."

Councilman Jack Block Jr., who is a declared candidate for a seat on the Port Commission, opposed the action. Councilwoman Sally Nelson, who at earlier meetings has indicated support for the Lora Lake Apartments, was absent.

Mayor Joan McGilton, Deputy Mayor Rose Clark, and council members Sue Blazak, Lucy Krakowiak and Gordon Shaw voted to proceed with the planned closure.

"I know that the one third of the property has to go, but I urge you to keep the rest" of the Lora Lake complex open, Burien resident Cherisse Luxa implored lawmakers before their vote.

Several members of the public expressed concern about the replacement of adequate affordable housing in Burien if Lora Lake is closed as scheduled.

The apartments, located on Port of Seattle property at Des Moines Memorial Drive and South 152nd Street and managed by the King County Housing Authority, have long been targeted for demolition.

But in recent weeks, the city of Burien has found itself in a tug-of-war with the housing authority over the apartment complex.

Prior to public comment on the issue at the meeting, five council members read prepared statements of opposition to preservation of the apartments. Seventeen of 19 members of the public then spoke against demolition, as did 65 of 66 e-mails sent to the city.

Council members are adamant about staying on course with the plans to tear down the apartments, which occupy 78 acres about 900 feet from the new third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport.

The Port operates the airport.

In 1998 the Port purchased the Lora Lake site and in 2000 the housing authority signed agreements with the Port and the city for temporary leases of the apartments.

The agreements stated that the apartments would be vacated and demolished in 2005. Delays in construction of the third runway prompted all parties to extend the lease agreements and keep the complex open until June 2007.

Under the lease agreements, the housing authority reimburses the city $200,000 and the Port $500,000 annually. The contract between the housing authority and Burien stipulates the city must use this revenue for multi-family housing.

"That money can't be used for after school programs or police or human services," Blazak noted.

Most council members are unhappy because only within the last 90 days have housing authority officials asked the city to keep Lora Lake open.

They noted again at the meeting that the housing authority had seven years to change its position.

Instead, housing authority representatives went to federal and state as well as county officials before making an eleventh-hour request to the city.

City Manager Mike Martin told council members that while apartment units on the east side of the Lora Lake complex are "in the runway protection zone, which under FAA regulations must be torn down," no regulations dictate what must be done with the other 162 units.

Currently, the Lora Lake site is zoned for 24 residential multi-family units per acre.

But it is located in the city's Northeast Planning Area north of the airport, where the comprehensive plan calls for business park and light industrial development in the future.

Some city officials would like to explore development of a "big box" retail store there.

"The Port, city and other agencies came up with what was called the New Economic Strategy Triangle Study in 2004, in which they decided that areas such as the location of the Lora Lake Apartments were designated as non-residential the usage for the area," Martin noted.

Port officials said if the apartments are vacated on schedule, demolition will begin in August and be completed by late October.

Requests for a new zoning designation, whether industrial or retail, are expected to be presented to the city later this month, Martin added.

The Port would select a developer by September, and construction for whatever use eventually is approved should begin in the summer of 2008.

"The agreement on the operation of the Lora Lake Apartments by the housing authority was always that it was temporary and that the buildings would be coming down," Blazak continued.

"Yes, we support affordable housing in Burien, but not 900 feet away from the third runway."

Many surrounding homeowners have sold their properties because they were told that the area would become non-residential.

Some lawmakers are concerned that they could be in a position to sue the city and Port for damages should the housing authority succeed in keeping the apartments.

Block expressed concern about the health issues caused by the effects of jet exhaust from planes landing at the airport.

"I have some concerns with being that close to the center line of the runway and the effects on children if that were to remain," Block said.

Clark, who was active in the fight against the third runway, observed, "Years ago this community was worried with the effects of the jet fuel on the people in the area."

But several of those urging the council to keep the apartments open said it is up to the tenants to decide if the conditions are too bad for them to live there.

The Burien Planning Commission has been preparing for the submission of plans for development of the property, although no specific land-use proposals are before it at this time.

In other business, council members also said goodbye to Assistant City Manger David Cline, who has been named city administrator for Lake Forest Park.

"We're going to miss him a lot," McGilton declared.

Cline also served as acting city manager in 2006.

Lake Forest Park is closer to his home and will allow him to spend more time with his family.