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Overview
2009 Amendments
Guidelines for Amendment Selection
Amendment Application Form
Resolution 31117
Resolution 31016
Washington State Growth Management Act

For a timeline of specific Comp Plan related dates, click here.
 

Comprehensive Plan Amendment

The city’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan), titled "Toward a Sustainable Seattle," is a document created in 1994 that sets out the goals, values and policies guiding us as we accommodate growth over time. It's a blueprint for growing responsibly.

The Washington State Growth Management Act gives Seattleites the opportunity to amend our Comprehensive Plan once a year.  Anyone can suggest an amendment, including neighbors, business owners, councilmembers and city staff.  Proposed amendments (see application) may include changes to policies, the future land use map, appendices, or other components of the Comprehensive Plan. To be eligible for consideration, applications for proposed amendments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 15 each year. A review calendar then plays out through March 31 of the following year.

Following the submission deadline, the process involves two separate reviews by the City Council. 

  • Screening: In the first review, the Council holds a public hearing around the first week of July, reviews feedback, and then (by the end of July) identifies the amendments that will be analyzed and considered in the cycle. The City Council uses adopted criteria in selecting Comp Plan amendments to consider.
  • Analysis: Executive staff and the Planning Commission then analyze the list of possible amendments Council identified in the July screening.
  • Final Action: By November 20 of each year, the Executive submits an ordinance containing the Mayor's recommended amendments for the Council to consider. From November to the end of March Council reviews the staff work, hears from the public, and then considers adoption of the proposals. A final, amended ordinance, adopted by the Council before March 31, adds the selected amendments into the Comprehensive Plan.

For the 2009-2010 Comp Plan amendment cycle, proposals from the public are due by May 15. Council will take final action on proposals by March 31, 2010.

Questions?

If you have questions or would like additional information about the Comprehensive Plan, please call Ketil Freeman of Council Central Staff at (206) 684-8178. To receive a copy of recommendations and notification of public hearing dates, call the number above or e-mail the Ketil at ketil.freeman@seattle.gov to be placed on the Comp Plan mailing list.

A Timeline of Specific Comp Plan Related Dates

April 1 - Council gives notice of opportunity for the public to propose Comp Plan Amendments

May 15, 5 p.m. - Comp Plan amendment submission deadline for public

June 24, 9 a.m. - Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee (PLUNC) receives briefing from Council Central Staff on proposed Comp Plan amendments
(Sign up here to receive PLUNC meeting agendas to be alerted to changes.)

by July 1 - Seattle Planning Commission and the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) submit written recommendations to the Council on whether to place proposed amendments on the policy docket for further review

July 15, 5:30 p.m - Council holds Public Hearing on Comp Plan amendments in Council Chambers to hear feedback from the public

July 22, 9:30 a.m. - Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee (PLUNC) receives briefing from Department of Planning and Development, Seattle Planning Commission, and Council Central Staff on recommendations whether to include amendments on the policy docket. PLUNC votes on policy docket.
(Sign up here to receive PLUNC meeting agendas to be alerted to changes.)

August 3, 2 p.m. - Full Council votes on policy docket

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Richard Conlin Bruce Harrell Jan Drago Jean Godden Tom Rasmussen Richard J. McIver Tim Burgess Nick Licata Sally J. Clark
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