Planners Proposed Bigger Upzones Before Harrell’s Team Intervened, Records Show
A paper trail from fall 2023 shows that Mayor Harrell's office overruled his planning department and cut transit corridor upzones and halved the number of proposed "neighborhood centers" before release of the growth strategy.
Seattle Council Pushes Forward on Transportation Impact Fees
The issue of whether Seattle should impose a sizable fee on all types of new development to fund transportation network improvements is back in...
Transportation Impact Fees Chugging Ahead with Lame Duck Council
The Seattle City Council is set to take a major step toward implementing a transportation impact fee program, following a public hearing on the...
Harrell Budget Doubles Down on Police Spending
In Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2026 budget proposal unveiled Tuesday, the Seattle Police Department was the big winner, seeing a $34.5 million increase. The mayor would use a new 0.1% “public safety” sales tax increase and a business tax overhaul to close a $122 million deficit and fund new investments.
Workers Need Homes, So Why Isn’t Our Zoning Keeping Up With Job Growth?
When Bellevue boasted they would eat Seattle’s lunch last month, I am not sure they realized the housing crisis was on the full course...
Issaquah TDR Deal Recommended For Denial, Perhaps For The Better
On January 18th, the Issaquah Land & Shore Committee recommended denial for a major modification request to the Issaquah Highlands development agreement, citing lack...
The One Seattle Plan Needs a Bold Alternative 6
Seattle has grown much faster than planners and policymakers predicted, which means our planning framework needs to be nimble. Every ten years Seattle makes...
Street Cafés Becoming a Permanent Amenity in More Puget Sound Cities
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remember, but prior to the onset of the Covid pandemic, street cafés, sometimes called streateries, were few and far...