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A OPCD Blog

One Seattle Comprehensive Plan Seeks Input on Environmental Review

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The City of Seattle is seeking public input on the scope of the environmental review of the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan. The updated plan, due to be completed in 2024, will guide where the city steers future housing and jobs and invests in transportation, utilities, parks, and other public assets. The goal of the plan is to make the city more equitable, livable, sustainable, and resilient for today’s communities and future residents. 

The plan’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will include analysis of potential environmental impacts and measures to reduce those impacts to inform the decision-making process. City planners are currently seeking input on the scope of this environmental review.

A key topic in the environmental analysis are the options for alternatives to the city’s urban village strategy first implemented in 1994. The current strategy has successfully guided 83% of all new homes to urban villages, which are centered around transit hubs such as light rail stations and frequent bus service.  

A 2021 racial equity analysis conducted by the City underscored several negative consequences of the current urban village strategy, including continued cost increases for homeownership and rental housing, increased displacement pressures on current residents of urban villages, and a lack of housing options in neighborhoods across the city.  

The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) is currently proposing to study several alternatives to the urban village strategy that would allow more homes outside of urban villages. The options studied would provide bookends for the environmental analysis, helping elected officials to understand the impacts as they choose from a menu of options when crafting the final plan. 

“We need your input to ensure we are considering the right range of options for where we encourage new housing and jobs in Seattle,” said Rico Quirindongo, acting director of OPCD. “Rental housing costs remain a severe burden for thousands of residents and the lack of homeownership opportunities are forcing many people to look outside the city when purchasing a home. We must also reduce displacement pressures on Black, Indigenous, and other people of color who have borne too many of the negative impacts of population and economic growth.” 

The deadline for public comments on what to study in the environmental review is July 25. More information about the process, the city’s potential growth strategies, and how to comment is available on the OPCD Public Engagement Hub, engage.oneseattleplan.com.

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Introducing the One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub!

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We are excited to launch our One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub as part of our engagement process for the Comprehensive Plan Update!

This platform is our central hub for virtual engagement for the One Seattle Plan, which will guide the future of housing, jobs, and community investments in our city. The Engagement Hub is designed to increase access to information and online engagement opportunities as we seek to lower barriers to participation for many communities. It’s a place to learn, comment, and connect with neighbors and the city to share your vision for Seattle.

Visit the One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub Now!

The Engagement Hub will also allow us to incorporate greater transparency and accountability into the engagement process, to showcase what we have heard, and share how your feedback is incorporated into the policies of the Draft Plan, and ultimately the Final Plan.

The Engagement Hub currently features a series of Issue Briefs on some of the major elements of the One Seattle Plan; a narrated slideshow that provides an overview of the One Seattle Plan (“Comprehensive Plan 101”), and our first public survey.  Finally, we’ve created a section dedicated to collecting general feedback about the One Seattle Plan, where users can share their hopes, needs, and visions for how the Comprehensive Plan Update should shape our city. Coming soon are a variety of exciting additional engagement tools ranging from interactive mapping exercises, workshops, an events calendar, quick polls, periodic engagement report outs, and more!

All elements of the Engagement Hub are interactive. Users can comment, discuss, and vote on user comments and suggestions; full site translations have also been integrated into the Hub. The interactive design of this platform is meant to be conversational. This aligns with the fact that the issues and elements of the Comprehensive Plan are topics of everyday conversation for people that live in or around Seattle. One of the goals of this platform is to encourage, listen to, and join that ongoing discussion, and to help weave these conversations into a larger story about our collective vision for Seattle.

Sign up on the Engagement Hub today to join that conversation, and to share this resource with friends, family, neighbors, and larger community.

Visit the One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub Now!

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Historic Columbia City Theater Purchased by Rainier Avenue Radio and the Cultural Space Agency

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The purchase of the theater and its permanent preservation is a first-of-its-kind.

Black-Owned community cultural center and career-connected learning institution building arts leadership and production skills in the next generation of south Seattle youth.

Following a year of negotiation and fundraising, the Cultural Space Agency and Rainier Avenue Radio are proud to announce their partnership, and their purchase of the historic Columbia City Theater. With support from the Strategic Investment Fund, as well as direct philanthropy from local supporters, the two organizations have acquired the Theater for $3.2 million and plan to reopen a fully renovated facility in 2023. Through the creation of the New Columbia City Theater Trust, cultural community members and neighbors will have the opportunity to be direct owners of, and investors in, the property.

A rendering of the Columbia City Theater performance space, with an audience watching a saxophone player on stage.
A rendering of the Columbia City Theater performance space.

Tony Benton, founder and station manager of Rainier Avenue Radio and a long-time Seattle radio presence and community organizer, and Matthew Richter, co-founder and interim executive director of the Cultural Space Agency, are both thrilled to be partnering in the creation of the New Columbia City Theater partnership.

This is the first time the Columbia City Theater, in its 100-year history, will be owned by the community it is designed to serve. This purchase is one of the first cultural space acquisitions funded by the City of Seattle’s Strategic Investment Fund. It is also among the first of many cultural space acquisitions that the Cultural Space Agency is partnering on this year.

[Read more…]
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Sound Transit Link Station Planning Progress Reports Now Available

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Sound Transit recently published a Station Planning Progress Report showcasing preliminary station design concepts for the ST3 West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project. Sound Transit consulted partner agencies including the City of Seattle, King County Metro, and the Port of Seattle to advance their approach to station design for Seattle’s largest-ever light rail investment, scheduled to open in 2032 (West Seattle) and 2037 (Ballard). The planning report supplements the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project. 

While the DEIS studies the potential benefits and impacts of each alternative, this progress report captures Sound Transit’s latest thinking about how people who walk, roll, bike, and ride transit will access the stations and how the stations might fit into the surrounding neighborhoods. 

Read the Station Planning Progress Reports here: 

  • Ballard Link stations (Chinatown International District, Midtown, Westlake, Denny, South Lake Union, Seattle Center, Smith Cove, Interbay, Ballard)

For more information on the City’s involvement in the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project, please visit our Light Rail Expansions page.

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Community Partnerships Will Drive “One Seattle” Comprehensive Plan Update

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The City of Seattle has selected six community-based organizations to help design and carry out public engagement strategies for the update of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan. Each of the organizations submitted engagement proposals that center the voices of people of color as the City updates its vision for how we will grow and invest in our communities.  

Mayor Bruce Harrell’s One Seattle vision will provide a framework for the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) as it works with residents to update our Comprehensive Plan. The planning process will continue through 2024, when the City Council is scheduled adopt the final plan, as required by the state’s Growth Management Act. 

“The Comprehensive Plan update is our City’s opportunity to envision the future we want to see in Seattle and to design the blueprint that makes that vision possible,” said Mayor Harrell. “Core to our mission – ensuring Seattle is a special place with enhanced affordability, climate resilience, and equity – is the need to center community. This thoughtful and targeted approach ensures that underrepresented communities don’t just have a seat at the table, but are actively shaping the conversation and helping drive forward our Comprehensive Plan update.” 

Each of these six organizations will receive a $30,000 contract to help co-create OPCD’s community engagement efforts for the Comprehensive Plan update: 

“The Capitol Hill EcoDistrict is honored to partner with OPCD to support all who live, work, and play in Seattle to have a voice in how our city grows,” Donna Moodie, Capitol Hill EcoDistrict. “We have faith in the creativity and compassion of our neighbors and look forward to helping OPCD create a shared vision for Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan.”  

“Engagement with communities across the City will shape each phase of the plan’s development,” said OPCD Director Rico Quirindongo. “Consistent with OPCD’s Equitable Community Engagement Ethos, we will prioritize giving voice and power to communities, especially BIPOC communities, that have been historically marginalized, while also engaging all residents of Seattle in shaping the City’s future.” 

The City is investing in a range of opportunities for all residents to participate in the Comprehensive Plan update. All residents will be encouraged to participate in a hybrid model of in-person events and online tools. The public will be invited to learn and provide input through community meetings, neighobhood walks, narrated presentations, surveys, and online open houses to help shape the plan. 

OPCD’s initial online survey on the Comprehensive Plan update is available now as we launch this next phase of community engagement.  

The Department of Neighborhood’s community liaisons will help develop and implement additional engagement opportunities in the months ahead. The community liaisons have deep connections with those who have been historically underrepresented in past planning processes. The City will incorporate translation and interpretation services to reduce barriers and increase participation. 

Last updated in 2016, the Seattle Comprehensive Plan will guide where and how the City grows to add housing and jobs over the next 20 years. The plan will address many elements: land use, transportation, housing, economic development, environment and climate change, parks and open space, arts and culture, quality of life, and more. 

Since 1994, the City’s goal has been to focus most new housing construction, jobs, and community investments within designated urban centers and urban villages. Updating the Comprehensive Plan will involve evaluating the current strategy as well as exploring new ideas for how Seattle can grow to be more equitable, affordable, and climate resilient. Last summer, OPCD presented to the City Council a racial equity analysis of the existing growth strategy. 

The City continues to invest in strategies that reduce residential, economic, and cultural displacement pressures as costs for housing and commercial spaces continue to rise. The City has pursued a range of efforts, including investing in rent- and income-restricted homes, grants to support permanent homes for BIPOC-led service providers, small-business supports, and grants to arts, cultural, and community organizations. During the planning process, OPCD will seek community input on which strategies are most effective, as well as ideas for new policies, programs, and investments that can help reduce displacement pressures. 

OPCD is also coordinating with the Seattle Department of Transportation as it crafts the Seattle Transportation Plan that will establish a renewed vision for the future of our streets and public spaces. SDOT is working with community to reimagine how we move through and enjoy Seattle’s streets. The plan is also our collective commitment – as a City – to a racially-equitable and socially-just transportation system that meets the needs of everyone, connecting us all safely and efficiently to the places that matter most.    

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Equitable Development Initiative Request for Proposals Now Open!

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The Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) fund Request for Proposals (RFP) is an opportunity for Community-based organizations working in Seattle on anti-displacement strategies, responding to creating new economic opportunities, improving educational outcomes, and other forms of community development.

The 2022 EDI funding round is available to organizations working on anti-displacement efforts in high displacement risk neighborhoods, with a continued emphasis on serving BIPOC communities that have been targeted by systemic and institutional racism. The funds will be used for organizational capacity building, property acquisition, and capital expenses.

Please review the following application material to prepare and submit your application. Applications are due June 5 at 11:59 p.m. For questions, please contact michael.blumson@seattle.gov.

Webinars for Future Applicants

The following webinar was presented to potential applicants to learn more about the process and ask questions.

For More Information

Contact Michael Blumson at michael.blumson@seattle.gov. 

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Little Saigon 2030 Action Plan Survey is Live

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What do you hope for Little Saigon in the year 2030?

Take the survey! Tell us about Little Saigon’s greatest assets, what you would like to change, and your vision for the future of the neighborhood. Your response will shape the Draft Little Saigon 2030 Action Plan that we will ask the community to review this Spring.

By March 5, take the survey by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/LittleSaigon2030.

About the Little Saigon 2030 Action Plan

In response to many recent changes in the neighborhood, the Little Saigon 2030 Action Plan Leadership Committee are helping the community create a 10-year Action Plan that will:

  • Support culture, community services, public spaces, small businesses, and safety for Little Saigon.
  • Be shaped by the Little Saigon community’s current experiences and ideas as well as past neighborhood plans.
  • Be a tool that the neighborhood can use to advocate for investments, additional resources, and fair, supportive decisions and processes over the next 10 years.

For more information visit www.bit.ly/LSActionPlan

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Planning and Development Specialist Position Now Open – Join Our Team!

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Over the next few months, the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) will be hiring three team members at the Planning and Development Specialist level. These are full time salaried positions at $37 – $48 per hour. We have newly budgeted openings in our Land Use Policy, Community Planning, and Comprehensive/Long Range Planning divisions. We welcome applications from a range of creative, community-oriented planners with interest or experience:

  • Conducting public policy research and analysis
  • Engaging directly with community on planning or community development issues
  • Preparing community plans or station-area plans
  • Analyzing data

OPCD supports thriving communities through an equitable approach to planning and community investment. We collaborate with communities to ensure Seattle grows in a coordinated way that reflects their interests. We work across City departments to assess community needs and prioritize resources.

OPCD is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. The fields of urban planning and community development have often failed to reflect the experiences and identities of people affected by development decisions and outcomes, including Black and Indigenous people, people of color, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people. We strongly encourage people with these identities or from other marginalized communities to apply.

See the current job announcement here!

Contact Geoffrey.Wentlandt@Seattle.gov with questions.

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Thriving Black-Owned Businesses in the Central District

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We partnered with community activist and artist TraeAnna Holiday and her team to produce three videos about our Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) partners in the Central District. This fourth and final video in the series places a spotlight on three Black-owned businesses in that neighborhood.

For more information:

  • The Liink Project: https://www.theliinkproject.com/
    The Liink Project is a grass-roots community effort to create a safe, structured, and supportive environment to incubate black owned businesses in the Greater Seattle Area.
  • Shikorina Pastries: https://www.shikorinaseattle.com/
    Founded by Hana Yohannes in 2020, this bakery boasts all in-house made pastries made from 100% organic ingredients and/or sourced in the Puget Sound.
  • The Melo Cafe: https://themelocafe.com/
    Specializing in a variety of fresh squeezed juices, waffles, and more.

For more information about EDI: http://www.seattle.gov/opcd/ongoing-i…

Visit our Youtube page for more community stories: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBnMuWw14aBmcjGXGmO1xeg

Producer/Interviewer: TraeAnna Holiday
Videographer: Jake Gravbrot
Audio: Curtis Delgardo
Editor: Ace Wilson

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Seattle’s Industrial Maritime Strategy environmental review available for public comment

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Updated industrial land use concepts evaluated in Draft Environmental Impact Statement  

The Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) has completed its environmental study of land use changes recommended by Mayor Jenny A. Durkan’s Industrial and Maritime Strategy Council. 

The City’s new industrial land use concepts seek to provide stronger protections for core industrial and maritime areas, while encouraging modern, innovative high-density industrial development in walkable areas near light rail stations. The proposal seeks to create affordable opportunities for small-scale light-industrial businesses, makers, and creative arts, and improve environmental health of communities in and near industrial areas.   

The proposals also seek to create improved transitions between industrial areas and residential or mixed-use areas and provide new flexibility for industry-supportive housing to allow workers and entrepreneurs to live near their place of work.   

Ultimately, the City aims to grow thousands of new living-wage jobs, while providing equitable access to those opportunities for Black, Indigenous, people of color, and women.  

The City’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) features four alternatives: a “no action” alternative and three action alternatives with increasing levels of change from existing land use rules and greater magnitudes of projected employment growth and housing allowances.   

In the DEIS, the City studied policies and zoning regulations that would update the land use approach for industrial areas, creating three new zones:

  • Maritime, Manufacturing and Logistics (MML) – This zone would focus on strengthening land use protections for core and legacy industrial and maritime areas to better prevent the encroachment of development that is incompatible with industrial and maritime uses. This zone is particularly applicable near the shoreline or deep-water port, rail and freight infrastructure, and around existing clusters of industrial or maritime suppliers and services.
  • Industry and Innovation (II) – This zone would encourage new development in multi-story buildings that accommodate industrial businesses mixed with other dense employment uses such as research, design, offices, and technology through a system of density bonuses. Modern industrial development would support high-density employment near transit stations and commercial areas.
  • Urban Industrial (UI) This zone would aim to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities with a vibrant mix of affordable, small-scale places for light industry, makers, and creative arts, as well as industry-supporting ancillary retail or housing spaces to create better, integrated, and healthier transitions along the edges between industrial areas and neighboring urban villages, residential, and mixed-use areas.

For more information, see this Executive Summary.

“The City of Seattle is committed to advancing the recommendations of dozens of stakeholders formulated through years of collaborative conversation,” said Rico Quirindongo, interim director of OPCD. “We continue to invest in our industrial maritime strategy because it is an opportunity to engage proactively in the future of our city and industrial lands, and how they relate to economic recovery and investment for all of our communities – including folks who work at the Port, in organized labor, and our communities of color. We will lean into a vision for the future of our City, and this is a great opportunity to continue that work in 2022.” 

Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires environmental review when a city makes changes to land use policies or zoning. The DEIS analyzes how the proposed changes could affect the built and natural environment in industrial areas and adjacent communities.  

This process allows thoughtful implementation of strategies to mitigate any adverse impacts and provides information to the public and policy makers before any decisions are made. 

The DEIS considers how the alternatives advance the City’s Equity and Environment Agenda and the City’s Duwamish Valley Program by screening whether alternatives would increase, exacerbate, or impede mitigation of environmental justice in four screening criteria:

  • Residents’ and workers’ exposures to environmental hazards  
  • Achieving a safe, connected, and accessible neighborhood  
  • Displacement risk for Equity and Environmental Initiative (EEI) populations
  • Access to education or pathways out of poverty through jobs and careers  

The City is accepting comments on the draft for an extended 45 day comment period. Written comments may be submitted until March 2, 2022 in multiple formats on the OPCD website.

In November 2019, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan gathered more than 60 stakeholders, comprised of representatives from traditional and emerging industrial and maritime businesses, labor, developers, workforce development professionals, and community representatives from neighborhoods near industrial areas, to consider the future of Seattle’s Manufacturing Industrial Centers. The Industrial and Maritime Strategy Council released 11 strategies to support the next generation of industrial and maritime jobs on June 30.

Maritime and manufacturing activities have long benefitted Seattle by contributing to the city’s identity, supporting living-wage jobs, and promoting economic diversity. Seattle contains approximately 7,000 acres of industrial lands (11% of the city’s area) that generate nearly 100,000 critical living-wage jobs, of which two-thirds are accessible without a traditional four-year degree. Seattle’s maritime industrial economy is supported by the Port of Seattle’s cargo terminals and connecting infrastructure; manufacturing facilities in the Duwamish Valley, Elliott Bay, Lake Union, and Ballard; and the nation’s largest fishing fleet, which is sewn into the fabric of Seattle culture.

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