Plans and Policy

Snohomish County suburban sprawl. A view of 192 Place SE located within the unincorporated Bothell urban growth area. This is one of many private streets in this development, a mechanism that allows for the construction and upkeep of the road to be placed on homeowners associations instead of a municipality. (Photo by Ray Dubicki)

A Clearview of the Urban Growth Boundary

Snohomish County is weighing a 15-square mile expansion of its urban growth boundary in an area called the Clearview Cluster. Even now, suburban sprawl...
A view from the Smith Tower at dusk looking toward Beacon Hill with Mount Rainier in the distance

Seattle Planning Commission Pushes for Bolder Housing Growth Strategy

In a letter approved this week, the Seattle Planning Commission expressed disappointment that the draft One Seattle Comprehensive Plan doesn't go much beyond state mandates, and pushed for changes to make the housing plan bolder and more forward-thinking.
An elevated light rail line over a city street with midrise buildings on the sides.

Help Snohomish County Shape Future Communities Near Light Rail

On August 3rd, Snohomish County returned with a Summer Survey to continue their light rail planning process. When we last covered Snohomish County's Light...
Three bike-wielding cops form a barricade around a sweep with a large contingent of officers behind

Councilmembers Spar Over Police Staffing Incentives, Poll Shows Broad Support for Addressing Root Causes...

Councilmember Sara Nelson was on the warpath during the Seattle City Council's weekly briefing Monday, seeking to outmaneuver Public Safety Chair Lisa Herbold to...

Top Urbanist Action: Speak Up For Mandatory Housing Affordability

Speak up for Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA): The city will be holding one of its first public comment sessions for MHA outside the center...

Top Urbanist Actions: Save the Basic Bike Network

Show Up at the Seattle Transportation Committee to Save the Basic Bike Network: The mayor's office appears to be taking a u-turn on Seattle's...
Recreation of the Seattle flag. Cent sign on a blue back ground with text "Penny Wise Pound Foolish"

Op-Ed: Seattle is the Capital of Toxic Frugality

Next week is standardized testing at the kiddos’ school. The normal seven-class-a-day schedule will be reorganized to allow morning and afternoon blocks long enough...

Harrell Swipes Affordable Housing Dollars to Backfill Budget, Reduce Service Cuts

Under the budget for the next two years proposed by Mayor Bruce Harrell, around half of the JumpStart funding originally earmarked for affordable housing and other investments would instead fund Harrell Administration priorities.