23rd Avenue Action Plan
A project for the City and community to work together to create a 23rd Avenue Action Plan for E. Union, E. Cherry and S. Jackson

Ballard to Interbay Land Use Corridor Study
A study to develop a clear and coherent land use vision for the Elliot Avenue/15th Avenue corridor.

Cannabis Zoning Restrictions
The City of Seattle is proposing to establish size restrictions on the growing, processing, and dispensing of cannabis in certain areas of the city.  This proposal is based on the work of an interdepartmental team consisting of City staff and representatives of the Mayor, City Councilmembers, and City Attorney and was developed in response to new State legislation, passed in 2011, that allows the creation of collective gardens, in which groups of qualifying patients can grow, process, and dispense cannabis and cannabis products for medical use. 

Capitol Hill Light Rail Immediate Station Area Planning
The Sound Transit University Link light rail line is currently under construction and will include a new station on Capitol Hill. In order to build the underground light rail station Sound Transit acquired several properties near the intersection of E. Denny Way and Broadway Ave (see Capitol Hill Station Area Site Plan below). Construction of the light rail line is expected to be complete in 2016, at which time the properties around the station will be reused for transit oriented development, adding to the vitality and livability of Capitol Hill.

Center City Seattle 
The' "Center City Seattle" strategy focuses on encouraging economic growth, transportation, new housing and great urban neighborhoods in Seattle's downtown core and the nine centrally located neighborhoods immediately around it.

Citywide Design Guidelines Update
The City’s design guidelines, entitled Design Review: Guidelines for Multifamily and Commercial Buildings, have been the cornerstone of the Design Review Program since 1994. These original guidelines formed the basis for 19 sets of neighborhood-specific guidelines (as of July 2009) and a set of Downtown guidelines. In 2008 DPD initiated a process to update the 15-year-old citywide guidelines and began drafting revisions with the assistance of architecture and urban design consultant Weinstein Architects and Urban Planners. 

Comprehensive Plan
The major review of the Seattle Comprehensive Plan will shape how Seattle grows over the next 20 years.  We need your ideas to get this project started.  What's most important to you?  What excites you about Seattle's future?  What are the big challenges?

Developing Small Single-Family Lots
DPD generally supports and encourages infill development when consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. DPD recently reviewed the Land Use Code provisions that regulate undersized lots and minimum lot area exceptions. DPD determined that development approved under current standards is often out of character with the surrounding neighborhood and inconsistent with policy. Interim measures were put in place to prevent additional permits on these small lots while this issue is being studied.

Greenwood Rezone
DPD solicited feedback from the public on a proposed rezone in the Greenwood Town Center. This website provides more information and maps of the proposed rezone areas.

Industrial Lands Study
A study of the Greater Duwamish Manufacturing and Industrial Center (MIC) to re-evaluate our policies to make sure we can protect industry and port operations in light of the proposed basketball arena and other nearby changes.

Light Rail Interim Parking
The economic recession has introduced uncertainty into the development process even in areas near the Link light rail system. Limited prospects for new development exist in the near-term. Vacant and underused lots and those awaiting development in and around light rail stations in Southeast Seattle may pose a safety hazard as well as create an unsightly condition. In addition to the issues raised by the recession, concerns have been raised that ridership of the new Sound Transit Link Light Rail system has been lower than projected.

Living Building Pilot
DPD is proposing to create a Living Building Pilot Program to assist projects in attempting to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge is a green building rating system created by the International Living Building Institute to recognize buildings meeting the highest level of sustainability.

Multifamily Zoning Update 
The Multifamily Zoning Update is part of the City's commitment to a comprehensive re-evaluation of Seattle’s Land Use Code.

Neighborhood Planning
Community members worked with the City to update the North Beacon Hill, North Rainier, and MLK @ Holly Street (Othello) Neighborhood Plans (2009 / 2010), and Rainier Beach and Broadview-Bitter Lake-Haller Lake Neighborhood Plans (2010-2011). All five areas have high capacity transit investments and have experienced or is expecting significant growth.  

Northgate Station Area Development
The City of Seattle and King County are working jointly with PSRC and Sound Transit, to explore ways to create a well-rounded, active community in the planned Northgate light rail station area. . 

Other Legislative Initiatives

Pike/Pine Conservation Overlay District
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen recently sponsored a project in the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to address concerns about the loss of neighborhood character in Pike/Pine due to redevelopment. The study is based on the recommendations in the Pike/Pine Neighborhood Plan..

Planning Exhibit 
The Planning Exhibit conveys the physical transformation of the city as it happens and profile some of the most compelling developments now in the planning stages.

Regulatory Reform 
To spark innovation and entrepreneurial investment, and make it easier for businesses to be sustainable, the City is pursuing opportunities to reduce red tape and encourage job growth while enhancing our commitment to the environment.

Residential Salvage and Deconstruction
A new demolition permitting option provides contractors and developers greater opportunities to salvage reusable building materials from housing that is being removed.

Roosevelt Legislative Rezone
DPD is recommending approval of a package of rezones based on a proposal by the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association (RNA) from 2006 when it undertook an effort to update its neighborhood plan to accommodate a planned light rail station. The rezones are intended to allow future development that respects the context of the neighborhood’s commercial core, achieves appropriate transitions to less intensive zones, and supports the neighborhood’s pedestrian and transit orientation around a planned light rail station.

Shoreline Master Program Update
The City of Seattle’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is being comprehensively updated for the first time since 1987. The SMP constitutes the policies and regulations governing development and uses on and adjacent to marine and freshwater shorelines.

South Lake Union Neighborhood Plan Update
DPD planners are working with the South Lake Union neighborhood to update the South Lake Union neighborhood plan.

Stadium District Study
The purpose of our Stadium District Study is to create a stronger, more vibrant and user friendly stadium district, while recognizing the importance of preserving industry in the Duwamish industrial area.

Thomas Street Streetscape Concept Design
In collaboration with neighborhood groups, property owners and individuals - the City is developing a streetscape concept plan for Thomas St. from Eastlake Ave. to Elliott Ave. W., passing through the South Lake Union and Uptown neighborhoods. Thomas St. is one of several streets that will be reconnected between South Lake Union and Uptown when the North Portal of the waterfront tunnel is completed. This will create important new pedestrian connections.

Transit Communities
While there are many types of transit communities around the world, they share a common characteristic: people can walk, bike, or take transit from their homes to accomplish many of their daily activities including getting to work or school, picking up groceries, or going out to a restaurant or a special event.Transit communities require well-coordinated public investment centered on transit service to create these lively, diverse communities. People need to be able to obtain the goods and services they require and have rich options for enhanced livability, including access to open space and neighborhood schools.

Trees
Trees are valued in Seattle and legally protected in a variety of ways. Among their benefits, trees and landscaping add aesthetic value to the landscape, provide shade to cool structures, reduce stormwater runoff and aid in climate protection.

University District Urban Design Framework
The University District Urban Design Framework is looking at how the community, City and the UW may partner together plan for a transit community.

Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URMs)
The City of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) briefed City Council, in May 2008, on possible new requirements for the city’s unreinforced masonry buildings (URM’s).  The briefing included information from a recently completed study by the Reid-Middleton engineering firm, commissioned by the city, which estimates there are up to 1000 URM’s in the city, most of which have not been seismically retrofitted.

Utility Landscaping
DPD is proposing new development standards for solid waste transfer stations and utility services uses. Utility services uses are facilities built to transfer or deliver power, water, sewage, stormwater runoff, and similar substances; these include electrical substations, combined sewer overflows, pumping stations, and trolley transformers.

Waterfront 
A once-in-a-century opportunity to create a new front porch for the city.

West Seattle Triangle
The recent closure of a large auto sales business in the Triangle has left several large parcels vacant.  This has prompted members of the community to assess changing conditions in the Triangle and contemplate a vision for the future of the area. 

Yesler Terrace
Yesler Terrace offers a unique opportunity to make progress toward many of the City’s goals while supporting the core mission of Seattle Housing Authority (SHA).  Consistent with Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, redevelopment would increase affordable housing and growth potential within an urban center, building a mixed-use, mixed income community within walking distance of downtown and First Hill medical campuses.  The City’s proposal includes requirements for green building, tree preservation, dedicated bike facilities, improved sidewalks, district heat infrastructure, and better stormwater management.