News Room

Olympia, WA – The Olympia Regional Airport is moving forward with an update to its 2013 airport master plan, a process that began in 2021. This multi-year update takes into account significant aviation and airport industry specific developments over the past decade, including emerging electric powered aircraft technologies and a growing focus on environmental sustainability.

Typically, a master plan update takes approximately two years to complete; however, due to staffing changes and delays in the development of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), the timeline has been extended. While the airport had initially hoped to include development alternatives based on the successful completion of the HCP, unexpected delays in this process have necessitated proceeding with the master plan update in order to meet deadlines set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The final drafts of the master plan sections, which will be presented to the Port Commission for approval in February 2025, are now available for public review. As part of this update process, the Port of Olympia has prioritized transparency and community engagement, hosting multiple open house events and a “Conversation with the Airport Manager” night—a casual, open Q&A session that welcomed all questions and feedback.

Additionally, the Port has kept the public informed through a dedicated webpage and an email account designed to receive comments and inquiries throughout the process.

While the primary purpose is to provide an informational opportunity to the public on the contents of the documents, the Port is announcing a 30-day public comment period for the final draft documents. The comment period will begin January 13, 2025, and close February 12, 2025. To ensure adequate time for public review, six chapters of the master plan and several appendices have been posted leading up to the official comment period. Public comments will continue to be accepted via the dedicated master plan email throughout this period. Comments collected during this period will be incorporated into an appendix of the final master plan update presented to the commission for adoption.

It is important to note that while we welcome public comment on the draft master plan documents, no changes are expected prior to the February 24 commission meeting. The majority of the master planning process was completed in 2022, following extensive public engagement throughout 2021 and 2022. When the project was put on hold, it had reached a significant milestone, awaiting FAA approval on Chapter 5 and the completion of the HCP to potentially incorporate final development opportunities. As a result, there have been few updates on the master plan since late 2022, as the documents being presented to the commission in February reflect no substantive changes since the project was paused.

The complete Olympia regional airport master plan update will be presented to the Port Commission for final approval at the February 24, 2025 regularly scheduled commission meeting, which will also include a public hearing for the master plan update.

For more information, updates and to explore engagement opportunities, visit the Port of Olympia website.