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 with more intensive zoning changes.
‘South Downtown Hub’ Outreach Ponders Chinatown Connectivity Without New Station
On Wednesday, Sound Transit hosted an outreach event at Union Station aimed at building consensus and easing tensions in Chinatown. Organizer Brien Chow spoke out to argue the Fourth Avenue station option was being sidelined and shortcomings of the agency's North and South of CID preferred alternative were being papered over.
Sound Transit Board Pledges Stronger Commitment to ‘Regionalism’
The idea of how the Sound Transit board can reset with a greater emphasis on making decisions through a regional lens was one of the primary topics at this week's Sound Transit board retreat.
Prime Stadium District Site Won’t Be Developed Until After World Cup
The WOSCA site is a publicly owned five-acre scrap next to the south portal of the SR-99 tunnel, left over from that project. It will remain an undeveloped scrap for the time being with a temporary use during the 2026 World Cup and a permanent redevelopment envisioned thereafter. Mayor Harrell is seeking bids from private developers.
$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.
Bellevue Unveils Bold Growth Strategy for 152,000 Additional Homes
Through a mix of highrise, midrise, and missing middle housing, Bellevue's new comprehensive plan would provide capacity for an extra 152,000 homes and 185,000 jobs, potentially allowing the city's population to more than double over the next 20 years.
The Battle Over Allowing More Rural Accessory Dwelling Units in Washington
Whether allowing new detached dwelling units on most lots in the state's rural areas would undermine decades of growth planning is a question that's been put front-and-center by House Bill 2126.
Kitsap County’s Proposed Comp Plan Sleepwalks Toward More Sprawl
The stated goal of Kitsap County’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update is to maintain the county’s rural character by directing "the majority of growth toward...