Taller buildings approved near airport

Mason County commissioners unanimously approved raising building height limits in the Airport Industrial Zone from 36 feet to 45 feet at their July 30 regular meeting.

The Port of Shelton applied for the ordinance amendment so it can replace a building that burned down in April 2021.

The 32,000-square-foot building was being used as a marijuana manufacturing facility when it burned in a three-alarm blaze.

The building was originally used for metal fabrication by an aerospace company and the port hopes to bring back similar manufacturing to the space, according to the information packet.

“The Port Commission has directed port staff to rebuild the structure with a modern industrial building to support heavy manufacturing and help bring back similar jobs to Sanderson Field and Mason County,” according to the packet.

The new building will include two 15-ton bridge cranes that need 45-foot buildings to accommodate them, the packet states.

Kell Rowan, planning manager for Mason County Community Services, told the commissioners height limits were “increased across the board” a few years ago, with the exception of the airport industrial zone due to added Federal Aviation Administration oversight.

“The Port of Shelton has worked with the FAA and looked at increasing the height limit up to 45 feet. Any increase after that would be with a special-use permit,” Rowan said.

The Planning Advisory Commission unanimously recommended to approve the amendment, according to Rowan.

Commissioner Sharon Trask said she was eager to see what the port would do with updated building heights.

“Maybe we’ll have some taller buildings out there,” she said.