Neighborhood Planning

Rainier Beach

Station Area Urban Design and Rezone

We’re moving forward to implement the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan Update.  To do so, we’re developing an urban design study to guide future land use, zoning, and transit changes related to the Rainier Beach light rail station. A draft urban design concept for the station area was presented to the community at an open house on November 28. The concept illustrates how the station area could possibly develop in the future to meet the needs of the Rainier Beach community.  Send comments on the draft design concept to robert.scully@seattle.gov.

The Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan Update is done! Now it’s time to take action.
Members of the Rainier Beach community are moving forward with the development of neighborhood action teams. The community will band together in continued support of the amazing work already taking place in Rainier Beach, and to take on new initiatives that emerged over the 18-month plan update. To find out how you can participate in the implementation of the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan, contact Kerry Wade at (206) 733-9091 or email kerry.wade@seattle.gov. 
 
Phase 5: Implementation
 
Now that the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan Update is completed, it’s important that the initiative and strategies be put into action.
 
GET READY TO IMPLEMENT. In late 2011, the City of Seattle and the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Advisory Committee began discussing the best ways to carry out the plan. Even though the plan had not yet been finalized, we thought that it was important to think ahead.  This way, by the time the plan is  finished, there will be clear steps for moving forward.
 
A team of consultants was brought on to help this process. Their assignment was to learn about organizations already active in Rainier Beach, how they might work together to accomplish the plan, what additional supports or skills would need to be built, and what funding sources could be pursued to support the work. Details about the consultants’ efforts can be found in the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Capacity Project Reports.
 
  

Phase 4: Making Rainier Beach Great! – A Call to Action

(Amharic)Call-to-Action-title-Amharic
Chinese)Call-to-Action-title-Chinese
(Afaan Oromoo) Rainier Beach-iin Beekamtuu Godhuu! Waamicha gara Dalagaa’a 
(Somali) Ka dhigidda Rainier Beach Meel Wacan - Codsi waxqabasho
(Spanish) Haciendo a Rainier Beach Grande! - Un Llamado a la Acción
(Tagalog) Gawing Dakila ang Rainier Beach! – Isang Panawagan sa Pagkilos
(Vietnamese) Hãy Làm Rainier Beach Tuyệt Vời! – Lời Kêu Gọi Hoạt Động
 

Phase 3
In Phase 3, community members attended an open house on October 27 to review proposed goals and strategies that grew from the values, issues and opportunities voiced by the community throughout the preceding phases. The POLs encouraged their communities to attend this workshop in order to bring all the voices together for this important review. Did you miss the open house? Download the open house material below.

Phase 2

In Phase 2 you prioritized the many things we heard during Phase 1.  This phase included a City-hosted meeting on June 28th and meetings hosted by the Planning Outreach Liaisons for our historically under-represented communities.Did you miss the meetings?  Download the meeting material below.  

Phase 1

In Phase 1 we asked you what's great and what needs improvement in your neighborhoods.  This phase included a City-hosted meeting on June 28th and meetings hosted by the Planning Outreach Liaisons for our historically under-represented communities. Did you miss the meetings?  Download the meeting material below.

Background

It’s been over a decade since community members worked together to draft Rainier Beach’s 1999 neighborhood plan, the blueprint for change through the year 2020.

In 2010, the Mayor and City Council identified Rainier Beach as one of two neighborhoods to undergo a neighborhood plan update. This community had experienced significant change—including the opening of a new light rail station, library and schools. However, community members noted that in other ways the area hadn’t changed enough. The 2011 Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan Update assessed the strengths or of the original plan, affirmed goals that were still relevant, and identified new goals where appropriate. This set the stage for community members to work with the City to create a shared work plan that achieves the community’s vision. 
 
Who is Doing this Important Work?
 

Partnerships play a significant role in Neighborhood Plan Updates.

Neighborhood stakeholders and community enthusiasts, you are experts on how you use your neighborhood and what you hope it can become. During the plan update process there were several opportunities for residents, business owners, students, community organizations, etc. to share their expertise, their voice and their vision for Rainier Beach. Their time and input is highly valued and directly shaped the direction of the Neighborhood Plan Update.

The Rainier Beach Neighborhood Advisory Committee(NAC) advised the City on key elements of the neighborhood plan, selected a consultant to address the neighborhood’s priority concern, reviewed community input, and helped form recommendations that considered all community interests.

City staff from the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Neighborhoods managed the process for the City and coordinated with a full range of departments and our elected officials.

Mayor McGinn and the Seattle City Council continue to balance specific neighborhood needs and goals with citywide goals in order for Seattle to grow in ways that improve its neighborhoods while meeting the City’s commitments under the State’s Growth Management Act.

 

Last Updated:

November 15, 2012