Op-Ed: Building Toward a Greener, Housing-Abundant Seattle
Housing growth and tree canopy growth can go hand in hand. In fact, a closer look at Seattle's recent history shows they often do. Here's how to build on that trend.
One Seattle Comprehensive Plan
Environmental Complaints Against Seattle Growth Plan Thrown Out in State Ruling
The Growth Management Hearings Board did find Seattle's environmental review inadequate in its scope, giving the City a year to study additional units initially left out of analysis. But the board tossed out arguments that the impacts on tree canopy and marine habitat weren't adequately studied.
Seattle Council Reins In Growth Plan Appeals in Narrow Vote
The 5-4 vote means city-level appeals that have delayed significant citywide zoning changes in the past will instead be directed to Superior Court of a state growth hearings board. The proposal had prompted significant push back from density opponents across Seattle.
Court of Appeals Ruling Pushes Out Next Phase of Seattle's Growth Plan 'Significantly'
The June 1 ruling by the Washington Court of Appeals is set to send a pair of appeals of Seattle's growth plan back to the City, putting consideration of the next set of planned zoning changes on hold. The city council may not be able to take them up again until late 2026 or early 2027.
Court Ruling Against Seattle Growth Plan Undercuts State Housing Reforms
Ruling in favor of two groups trying to reopen environmental review of Seattle's Comprehensive Plan, a state Court of Appeals has affirmed a major loophole in recent state laws intended to reduce barriers to urban housing development. The decision could have big impacts statewide.
Op-Ed: The Orca Whales Didn’t Hire Toby Thaler
Seattle activists trying to block growth incorrectly blame new housing for the threat to orcas, instead of the biggest culprit: cars and the sea of pavement carrying them. Paul Beard lays out how they went wrong.
Editorial: Seattle Times Called Us 'Builders' Mouthpiece' for Trying to Build a Better City
The Seattle Times editorial board opposes Seattle's "taller, denser, faster" growth plan, and they're mad enough about it to call The Urbanist "the builders' media mouthpiece." Here are the many things they got wrong in their recent editorial.
Wilson, Housing Advocates Rally for Bolder Seattle Growth Plan
At a rally Monday, Seattle housing advocates pushed for broader corridor upzones within a 10-minute walk of frequent transit, enlisting a powerful supporter to their side in Mayor Katie Wilson. Wilson has already pledged a "taller, denser, faster" housing plan.
Op-Ed: Help Us Fight for the Bold Housing Plan Seattle Deserves
Join advocates for a housing rally at noon Monday, April 6th before City Council’s first public hearing on Phase 2 of Seattle’s growth plan. Here’s how we can improve the plan to promote housing affordability and abundance.
Wilson Pledges 'Taller, Denser, Faster' Housing Growth Plan
This week, Mayor Katie Wilson announced Seattle would would be taking a "taller, denser, faster" approach to its growth plan. A greatly expanded scope for Phase 3 would mean more growth centers and wider transit corridor rezones. Just how wide is not yet clear.
Urbanist Coalition To Hold Housing Rally at Seattle City Hall on April 6th
Join The Urbanist and Complete Communities Coalition for a housing rally on April 6, pushing for a bolder Seattle Comprehensive Plan that promotes affordability and abundance.
Seattle Growth Plan Appeal Tests Laws Removing Roadblocks to Housing
Washington's Court of Appeals will decide whether the legislature left a major loophole in place when it passed recent laws to prevent zoning changes that increase housing capacity in cities from being mired in lengthy legal appeals.
Seattle Planning Director Says Upzones Within Two Blocks of Transit Inbound… Eventually
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s administration is queuing up housing density increases within two blocks of all frequent transit corridors, planning director Rico Quirondongo revealed at a recent meeting of the Seattle Planning Commission, which pushed for the idea and greeted the plan warmly.
OPCD Further Trims Corridor Upzones in Newly Unveiled Seattle Zoning Maps
Zoning maps for 30 new neighborhood growth centers, a handful of urban center expansions, and narrow transit corridor rezones dropped on Thursday. With the patchy current vision driven by the Harrell administration, new Mayor Katie Wilson has pledged to come back and expand the plan.
Op-Ed: Why Housing Abundance is Key to Fighting Climate Change
Building more dense housing within vibrant walkable neighborhoods is a key climate strategy, argues IPCC author Michael Gillenwater. The Seattle Comprehensive Plan could further those opportunities.
Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan
Birds Connect Seattle, Thornton Creek Alliance, and the Orca Conservancy are among the groups trying to send the City of Seattle back to the drawing board on its housing growth plan. They’re pushing on behalf of an appeal that has been working its way through the courts since April.
Katie Wilson Looks to Beef Up Seattle’s Housing Growth Plans
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Rico Quirindongo, the city’s planning director, seem to be on the same page about revamping the city’s growth plans to allow for additional housing density. The City appears set to largely stay the course on scheduled rezone work in 2026, but queue up additional growth
Dionne Foster Takes Office, Aiming to Tackle Housing Issues
Seattle City Councilmember Dionne Foster took office Tuesday, echoing Mayor Katie Wilson’s call for “bread and roses” to tackle the city’s affordability crisis while strengthening the social and cultural fabric.
Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead
The adoption of the Seattle Comprehensive Plan, nearly one year late under a state-imposed deadline, is setting up much bigger debate over where additional housing density will be allowed in the city. Those issues, set to be discussed in 2026, include adding neighborhood centers and upzones along tr
Op-Ed: Making Seattle Neighborhoods More Accessible by Design
Four case studies show how Seattle’s new middle housing zoning incentives align with demographic shifts to meet housing demand.
Seattle Council Sets the Stage for a Potential Multiplex Boom
The Seattle City Council added a series of series of height and density bonuses for stacked flats as they amended Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan in September. The bonuses could unleash the city’s former single family zones to create a stacked flat multiplex bo
School Board Directors Are Begging Seattle to Allow More Housing
A majority of the Seattle School Board joined the push for additional neighborhood growth centers last week, pointing to a link between additional housing density and stable student enrollment.
Seattle Council Punts on Housing Expansion, Tightens Tree Preservation Rules
Reductions in the size of proposed growth centers and new tree retention rules that could stifle homebuilding were among the dozens of Seattle growth plan amendments approved this week. Council rejected moves to make the plan bolder in a number of areas, fretting over the risk of legal appeals.
Hundreds Turn Out for Last Seattle Growth Plan Hearing
More than 200 testifiers weighed in on the Comprehensive Plan and dozens of proposed amendments ahead of planned votes this week. The topics of neighborhood centers, tree retention, and social housing dominated the hourslong hearing.
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 consi
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.
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
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.
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: Seattle Council Should Scale Up Neighborhood Centers in Growth Plan
On Monday, June 23, the Seattle City Council is holding a public hearing on the One Seattle growth plan. Housing advocates must defend the 29 neighborhood centers in the plan and push to add more. Jazmine Smith lays out the case for these eight additions.
Harrell Official Minimizes Cuts to Housing Growth Centers as ‘Very Small’
After dozens of blocks were dropped from the One Seattle housing growth plan, planner Michael Hubner downplayed the changes as minimal. The Seattle Planning Commission painted the move as pushing the city is headed in the wrong direction.
Judge Dismisses Last-Ditch Challenges of Draft Seattle Growth Plan
Quick decisions by a King County Superior Court ruled that two separate challenges to the One Seattle Plan’s environmental review will have to wait until the Seattle City Council makes a final decision on the growth plan.
Seattle Just Rezoned Entire City — That Was the Easy Part
To meet a state deadline, the Seattle City Council legalized fourplexes or sixplexes across the entire city via the adoption of an interim code Tuesday. The move is just a prelude to a bigger fight over urban density, as Council advances Mayor Bruce Harrell’s broader growth plan.
Harrell Chops Off Dozens of City Blocks from Planned Growth Centers
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has shrunk the dimensions of eight neighborhood centers and six urban center expansions he proposed last year. The move chops dozens of blocks off the growth centers, limiting opportunities for apartments and affordable homebuilding and drawing criticism from housing advo
Turn Out for Housing at Seattle Hearings This Week
There are two important housing fights coming up next week. Public hearings are scheduled on Monday and Wednesday, and advocates need to ensure Seattle’s plan for middle housing keeps advancing and long-promised affordable housing gets built at Fort Lawton, despite pushback.
An Audio Recap of The Urbanist’s ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel
Want a deep dive on the latest in Seattle housing policy? The Urbanist has you covered. Check out this recording and transcript of our April housing panel with experts.
The Deck is Stacked Against Stacked Flats in Seattle
Once plentiful across the city, small apartment buildings with flats stacked on top of one another are incredibly rare in new construction. The reasons behind that are multifaceted, and stemming the tide will take a push on multiple levels of government.
Seattle Commission Warns Of Adding ‘Poison Pills’ to Middle Housing Changes
With the Seattle City Council set to consider amendments to required zoning changes this week, the city’s planning commission highlighted the danger of adding on additional requirements including affordable housing mandates and changing thresholds for infrastructure upgrades.
Public Meetings Privilege Housing Opponents — Here’s How to Fix It
The way cities conduct public outreach and local elections stacks the deck against homebuilding, tenants, and people of color, research shows. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Op-Ed: Mapping the Missing Housing Opportunities in Seattle Growth Plan
Nat Henry maps out Mayor Harrell’s growth plan and finds his transit corridor plan would would upzone fewer than 1 in 10 parcels within a five-minute walk of transit stops. That forces renters onto dangerous, polluted arterial roads, where apartments would be narrowly focused.
Seattle Council Pushes Most Zoning Changes Into 2026, Citing Appeal Delays
Phase two of the One Seattle Plan had included additional housing density around 30 existing commercial centers like Tangletown and Madrona, but now those changes won’t be discussed until after this fall’s elections, pushing key housing actions into 2026.
City of Seattle Prevails Against Housing Growth Plan Appeals
Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil dismissed all appeals of Seattle’s growth plan. Despite a myriad of issues raised by six appellants, the proposal will move forward thanks to a recently passed state law intended to prevent predatory delay of housing plans.
The Urbanist to Host ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel April 23
RSVP to save yourself a spot at the Future of Seattle Housing Panel hosted by The Urbanist and Seattle YIMBY from 6pm to 8pm on April 23.
Op-Ed: To Save Trees and Orcas Build More Homes in Seattle
Cars and sprawl that are the true problem as the Puget Sound region seeks to boost salmon runs and protect salmon-eating orca whales. Building more homes in Seattle is the way to curb sprawl.
Op-Ed: Harrell’s Growth Plan Shorts Housing and Tree Canopy
Architect Michael Eliason shares his blueprint for a greener Seattle with more abundant and affordable housing. The vision goes beyond townhomes to stacked flats amidst ample tree canopy.
City of Seattle Pushes to Dismiss Appeals Blocking Housing Growth Plan
The six appeals against the One Seattle housing plan had been headed toward a lengthy hearing later this spring. But a filing by the City seeks to dismiss the appeals much more quickly, allowing the plan to move forward.
Facing Legal Appeals, Seattle Poised to Adopt Stopgap Middle Housing Upzones
An interim ordinance will allow Seattle to meet a state deadline, and decide how to allow four and six units on residential lots around the city. But exactly how to do that will likely be a hotly debated issue on the city council.
Op-Ed: Single Family Zoning Is Keeping Seattle Inaccessible to Disabled People
For the last 30 years, Seattle has adopted an urban village approach to growth that has reserved 75% of the city for single-family zoning while concentrating growth into walkable urban centers. This has created de-facto housing segregation, where many people with disabilities can reside only in the
Op-Ed: 10 Reasons Seattle Adding 30 Neighborhood Centers Is Smart Planning
Keeping all 30 proposed Neighborhood Centers is essential for a more affordable, sustainable, and thriving Seattle. If we chip away at Neighborhood Centers, we’ll be left with the same housing shortages, rising costs, and inequitable growth patterns we’ve seen for decades.
Homeowner Groups Stoke One Seattle Backlash, Planners Hint at Compromises
Seattle City Councilmembers and top planning officials are making the rounds visiting homeowner-dominated community councils in their district to get feedback on the One Seattle growth plan.
Seattle’s Most Exclusive Neighborhoods File Appeals to Delay Harrell’s Growth Plan
The appeals, filed by residents in Madison Park, Mount Baker, and Hawthorne Hills, seek to require additional environmental review, pushing back the City’s plan to allow more housing.
Housing Advocates Outnumber ‘One Seattle’ Opponents, Moore and Rivera Back Opponents
Housing advocates outnumbered opponents by a margin of 89 to 75 during a five-hour public hearing Wednesday on the One Seattle housing growth plan. Nevertheless, several councilmembers made it clear they sided with slow-growth advocates, rather than the majority demanding more housing options.
Harrell Growth Plan Would Produce Fewer Affordable Homes Than Alternative 5
The 1,300-page environmental review of the One Seattle plan shows that the Mayor’s preferred plan would increase hardscape, tree removal, and greenhouse gas emissions, while decreasing affordable housing over broadly supported Alternative 5.
How Much Housing Growth Should Seattle Be Targeting?
Seattle has set a goal of 112,000 new homes over the next 20 years, but is that really enough to meet demand?
Could Seattle’s 20-Year Growth Plan Get Derailed by Predatory Appeal?
The release of the city’s final environmental review of the One Seattle growth plan is likely to be followed by an appeal, in an attempt to stop neighborhood-level zoning changes. But while an appeal may add time, it’s likely to ultimately fail.
Moore Leads Housing Backlash in Seattle Council’s First Comprehensive Plan Meeting
As the Seattle City Council took its first look at Mayor Bruce Harrell’s One Seattle Comprehensive Plan on Monday, Cathy Moore delivered a slow-growth manifesto, tinged with derision for renters, who she portrayed an unengaged and a detriment to neighborhoods.
Local Groups Push to Block Housing in Seattle’s Proposed Neighborhood Centers
By the time the Seattle City Council convenes for the first meeting of the Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan on January 6, a group of residents from every single council district will have been pushing to scale back proposed zoning changes in their midst, all using similar arguments around
Last Chance to Comment on Revised Seattle Housing Plan
Today is the last day for public comments in the latest round of process around the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan proposed by Mayor Bruce Harrell to guide the next 20 years of city growth. Housing advocates are pushing the City to go bigger.
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.
Seattle Reveals Midrise Zoning Proposal for Phase 2 of Growth Plan
Proposed Phase 2 One Seattle Comprehensive Plan changes would focus on midrise zones, in hopes of adding additional housing capacity in existing urban centers and the 30 proposed “neighborhood centers.” OPCD hopes to introduce Phase 2 legislation in May, with council passage expected around Septembe
Op-Ed: Queen Anne Must Embrace New Neighbors Rather than Fear Housing
Seattle must embrace bold zoning changes in Queen Anne and similar neighborhoods to preserve our city’s promise for future generations. We need a lot more housing in all parts of Seattle. Seattle isn’t full. Queen Anne isn’t full.
Seattle Set to Double Down on Arbitrary Parking Mandates
Despite being a longtime parking reform leader, Seattle is set to require off-street parking, even as it unlocks significant housing capacity near transit. This will make housing harder to build.
Updated Seattle Growth Plan Adds Five Neighborhood Anchors, Bigger Fourplexes
An updated version of Seattle’s 20-year growth plan includes additional opportunities for housing density, but mostly retains the city’s longstanding pattern of walling off lower-density areas of the city.
Seattle’s Growth Plan Keeps Most of the City Unaffordable, County Committee Says
Seattle’s 20-year growth plan doesn’t do enough to ensure that lower income residents will be able to access the vast majority of the city’s residential neighborhoods, according to King County’s Affordable Housing Committee.
Single Family Zones Are Biggest Culprits in Displacement of Black Seattleites
Seattle’s single family areas have seen their Black population plummet by 9,126 since 1990. Meanwhile, “urban village” neighborhood have added more than 8,000 Black residents in that span. Why then is low-density zoning expected to blunt displacement?
Will Seattle Embrace Multiplexes in Single Family Zones Despite Weak Proposal?
Seattle needs to allow more housing in today’s single family zones if it’s serious about its housing crisis. Strict multiplex size restrictions need to go from the Mayor’s growth plan.
Op-Ed: Boost Seattle’s Growth Plan to Solve the Housing Crisis
The path forward is clear: a revised and ambitious Comprehensive Plan that should reform zoning rules and housing policies to allow more homes of all shapes and sizes; and incentivize affordable housing and homeownership.
Urbanists Rally to Sway Seattle Growth Plan
Comment on the draft Seattle Comprehensive Plan by May 20. Housing advocates have urged the City to adopt the “Housing Abundance Map” rather than keep exclusionary zoning.
Op-Ed: Building the Seattle We Want with the Growth We’ll Have
Seattle’s proposed 20-year growth strategy could certainly use improvement. Here are suggestions to promote housing abundance, fight exclusion, and curb climate pollution.
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.
Urbanist Leader Rian Watt Talks Housing Crisis on Hacks & Wonks Podcast
The Urbanist’s Executive Director Rian Watt appeared on Crystal Fincher’s Hacks and Wonks podcast on April 9 to talk about the housing crisis. He offered three fixes for the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
Op-Ed: Growth Plan Fails to Put Enough Housing for Workers in Seattle
Cloud City Coffee is an anchor in the Maple Leaf business district. Seattle’s growth plan isn’t what the city needs to allow its employees to live close by.
Op-Ed: Six Ways to Improve Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan
Suggestions to improve the One Seattle plan include allow bigger buildings, embrace transit-oriented development, and jettison parking requirements. We can create a Seattle that pulls the working class in rather than pushing them out.
Growth Plan Falls Short of Seattle’s Needs, Planning Commission Says
The Seattle Planning Commission has given the proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan a once-over. The reviews are not good.
Op-Ed: Harrell’s Anemic Growth Plan Is Not ‘Space Needle Thinking’
The mayor’s comprehensive plan proposal failed to deliver real solutions on housing abundance, affordability, and climate. It promises only modest zoning changes at the margins and 100,000 additional homes over 20 years.
Land Use Chair Tammy Morales Takes Aim at Proposed Seattle Growth Plan
In the first chance to discuss the Harrell administration’s planned growth strategy, Morales was leagues ahead of her colleagues in articulating changes she wanted to see made, such as higher growth targets and more multifamily zoning, before earning her vote of approval.
Housing Leaders Call Out Seattle’s Bare Minimum Growth Proposal
Builders, lawmakers, and housing advocates warn the ‘One Seattle’ growth strategy is “nothingburger” that will come up short on affordability, livability, and complying with state law. Fourplexes would be too constrained to deliver sufficient housing.
Seattle Releases Comprehensive Plan Less Ambitious Than Bellevue
While Bellevue is projecting 225,000 additional residents by 2045, Seattle is anticipating a more modest 200,000 for its comprehensive planning purposes. In its new draft plan, Seattle adds fourplex zoning across most, but not all of the city, plus 24 “Neighborhood Centers” and one new urban center
$230 Million Deficit Hangs Over Annual Harrell Speech
In his state of the city speech Tuesday, Harrell eschewed new taxes and promised yet-to-be identified budget cuts. He pledged a long-delayed draft of the Seattle Comprehensive Plan and an incentive package for office-to-housing conversions will be released in March.
Seattle Risks Missing 2024 Comprehensive Plan Deadline with Continued Delays
The draft plan still isn’t out, which is worrying housing advocates. But success is still within reach. Last year, the City of Seattle had planned to release its draft “One Seattle” Comprehensive Plan in April, but that draft has still not been released to the public after the Harrell
Seattle’s Housing Construction Booms While Permitting Flashes Warning Signs
Plummeting permits could point to a housing slowdown and less affordable housing money after a banner year. Seattle’s housing production set a new record in 2023, producing 12,853 new homes, according to data from the City of Seattle. This is the most homes built since at least 2005,
Harrell Delays Comprehensive Plan Release Again, Likely to 2024
Urge the Harrell administration to move forward with a plan for housing abundance and affordability. Despite an earlier pledge of an April release for the draft “One Seattle” Comprehensive Plan, the Harrell administration has repeatedly delayed the plan. The comp plan update serves as a once per decade overhaul to
Video: City Council Forum 1 on Housing and the Seattle Comp Plan
On Tuesday, Seattle City Council candidates squared off in the first forum of the general election season at the First Baptist Church in First Hill. Questions were focused on housing, land use, and the once-a-decade “Major Update” to the Comprehensive Plan is due in 2024, which weighs heavily
Op-Ed: Off-Base Form-Based Codes Could Be Headed to Seattle
Right now, the city of Seattle is at a crossroads. As a robust job market, the city has never had a housing plan that meets the demand. Thankfully, the Washington State Legislature has done a lot of work this spring, legalizing fourplexes everywhere in Seattle, and legalizing sixplexes near frequent
Bumping Seattle’s Comp Plan Release to Autumn Pressurizes the Schedule and the Stakes
Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) has announced that release of the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan will be delayed until September. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the plan had been expected to be released this month – itself a delay from the City’s previous April 2023
Opinion: Everyone (Especially Urbanists) Should Care About the Crisis Facing Seattle Schools
A public school is an essential part of any community. Here in Seattle, public schools are in crisis. Last month, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) announced their intention to close schools and consolidate students into schools with larger student populations. This comes on the heels of recent reports that SPS may
We Need More Chairs
An accidental game of musical chairs at a packed community meeting on the Comprehensive Plan provided a microcosm for Seattle’s housing crisis. When you come to a two-hour community event, you expect to have a seat. And when you move to a place like Seattle, you expect there’
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 a major update to the Comprehensive Plan, used to make rules about how we plan for growth and what kind of housing can be built where.
The Urbanist Events Calendar
Welcome to the first week of 2023! As we get to the point where we can’t say Happy New Year any more (or use it as an excuse to push an email to next week) let’s take a look at the upcoming events for advocacy, meetups, and volunteering
The Urbanist Podcast: Comprehensive Planning with Ron Davis
This week, let’s talk about the future of Seattle with neighborhood activist and The Urbanist guest contributor Ron Davis, who joins Ray Dubicki to talk about Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan. It can be a big, confusing mess of technocrat speak and boring stats. Is it too geeky? Yes, but
Unserious in Seattle
The City’s Comp Plan is seriously flawed from the start. Seattle knows how to get serious when we need to, whether that’s building trillion dollar companies or signing up for one of the largest light rail expansions in US history. We also know what it takes to tackle
Mosqueda Champions Bolder Zoning Alternative 6 in Initial Council Comp Plan Discussions
The land use committee meeting on Wednesday was an eventful one, as several councilmembers shared their critiques of the Seattle comprehensive plan work thus far. Councilmember Alex Pedersen had already attacked the plan from a conservative ‘slow the growth’ perspective, but most of his colleagues urged OPCD to think bigger
The Urbanist Events Calendar
Welcome to December 2022 Edition Now that the carnage of Budget Season has passed, we can move to more pressing concerns. Comprehensive plan meetings! Also, make sure you sign up for any and all of The Urbanist’s upcoming events, including our talk with Futurewise, a meetup with Tiffani McCoy,
Seattle OPCD Beefs Up Housing Alternative 5 in New Scoping Report
The Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) cleared another hurdle in crafting its growth plan for the next 20 years with a scoping report published today. The report summarizes comments and lays out the Comphensive Plan alternatives that OPCD is studying in greater detail. It also keeps the
Can the Seattle Comprehensive Plan Slow Urban Sprawl and Prevent Farmland Loss?
Now, more than ever before, it’s essential that we protect our irreplaceable agricultural lands and promote the growth of resilient and regenerative food systems. The global food system faces an immense set of pressures disrupting it at every level. War in Ukraine has devastated one of the world’s