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Plans and Policy

Looking up Phinney Avenue with a five-story apartment building on the corner and another under construction just north.

Urbanists Push to Amend Seattle Growth Plan Ahead of Final Vote

Seattle’s long saga of passing its state-required, once-per-decade major update to its Comprehensive Plan is nearing its end. But first, one more public hearing will be held this Friday for residents to air their grievances or do their cheerleading. Here's our guide to the 106 amendments under consideration.

Seattle Community Councils Push Against Restoring Neighborhood Growth Centers

Neighborhood groups are pushing back on additional density in Wallingford, West Seattle, and Queen Anne. An amendment from Alexis Mercedes Rinck to restore eight growth centers dropped from the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan at an earlier stage is front-and-center.

The Seattle Waterfront Park Amenities That Never Crossed the Finish Line

While the primary debate over the remade Seattle waterfront has focused on the size of Alaskan Way, a whole slate of potential public space improvements also ended up on the cutting room floor. Those include a festival pier, a pool barge, and a pedestrian street.

Join The Urbanist and Seattle OPCD for Madison Valley Walking Tour

On September 10, The Urbanist is hosting a Madison Valley walking tour featuring Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development staff, who will discuss the "neighborhood center" rezone proposed for the area. It will be great preparation for the City's September 12 public comment session on the One Seattle growth plan.
Rinck stands at the lectern and a group of supporters stands behind her, including colleagues Rob Saka and Sara Nelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell.

Seattle Council Greenlights Rinck’s B&O Tax Overhaul

On Monday, the City Council voted unanimously to send the Seattle Shield Initiative to voters this November. Sponsored by Alexis Mercedes Rinck, the proposal shifts B&O tax burden away from small businesses and toward larger ones, raising an estimated $81 million annually to shore up the City budget.

Seattle Growth Plan Amendments Would Shrink Neighborhood Centers, Expand Density Incentives

The Seattle City Council will spend the next month considering the 106 different amendments, which would push the city's growth plan toward allowing more types of housing... or scale back areas where density increases are proposed.
A sailboat passes in front of the seating area at Gas Works with the skyline in the distance

Rinck Proposes Restoring Growth Centers Dropped from One Seattle Plan

The potential Seattle Comprehensive Plan changes, which are set to be discussed Monday, would add back growth centers around Gas Works Park, Alki, North Capitol Hill, and other areas. Councilmember Rinck also proposes legalizing corner stores and removing parking mandates citywide.

Op-Ed: Cascadia’s Awakening — Building a Region That Works for All

Washington State has big housing plans and ambitious planning tools, but it needs binding commitments across public, private, and social sectors to turn vision into reality. As it stands, housing isn't being built fast enough to stem the affordability crisis.