Administrative Design Review for Townhouses
The goal of this project is to develop a streamlined Administrative Design Review process to help ensure that townhouse projects are well designed and fit into existing neighborhoods without adding significantly to development costs.

Aurora Avenue Land Use Visioning and Urban Design Study
In response to requests from the community and the development of a citizens’ Action Agenda by a group of community stakeholders, the Mayor has launched an initiative to assist in the revitalization of the Aurora Avenue N. corridor between N. 72nd Street and N. 90th Street.

Backyard Cottages
Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed legislation that would allow more homeowners the option to build backyard cottages. Under the proposal, Seattle homeowners would be allowed to build backyard cottages under certain conditions.

Ballard Urban Village Rezone
DPD staff has been working with a group of neighborhood representatives to develop a proposal to rezone specific areas of industrial zoning within the Ballard Hub Urban Village (HUV) and outside the Ballard-Interbay Manufacturing and Industrial Center (BINMIC). 

Center City Seattle 
Mayor Nickels' "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.

Fremont Urban Village Rezone
DPD staff has been working with a group of neighborhood representatives to develop a proposal to rezone specific areas of industrial zoning within the Fremont Hub Urban Village (HUV) and outside the Ballard-Interbay Manufacturing and Industrial Center (BINMIC). 

Greenhouse Gas Assessment 
On December 3, 2007, the City Council, adopted Ordinance 122574 that requires City departments that perform environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when reviewing permit applications for development. King County already started to do this evaluation in October 2007, becoming the first local government in the nation to officially add GHG emissions to the environmental review of construction projects. Seattle will be one of the first cities in the country to require such a review.

Historic Preservation 
Sustainability, green buildings, climate change and energy efficiency are all terms we hear and read about. But, how does the drive to adapt our built environment to "green building" standards affect the future of our historic properties? The New Pathways Conference, to be held April 14 & 15 in Seattle, will try to answer questions about how historic rehabilitation projects can successfully comply with local building codes and green building rating systems (such as LEED), and still meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The target audience includes building code officials, green building design proponents, designers/architects, and preservation consultants. Click here to read a news story.

Housing for Seattle's Future 
Seattle’s booming economy and healthy real estate market drive an increasing need for housing. To help address that need, DPD administers building standards that protect neighborhood character while allowing new development. 

Industrial Lands 
In 2006, DPD began conducting research to identify the key issues facing industrial businesses in the city, to see how other cities have addressed similar issues, and to work with the community to develop approaches that can help Seattle meet its objectives for industrial land.

Livable South Downtown 
Planning effort focuses on the neighborhoods of South Downtown as part of the Mayor's "Center City Seattle" strategy.

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 Mayor's commitment to a comprehensive re-evaluation of Seattle’s Land Use Code.

Neighborhood Main Street Mapping Project 
The Neighborhood Main Street Mapping Project will identify specific locations for Pedestrian Zones to be designated in Seattle’s neighborhood business districts. 

Neighborhood Plan Updates and Neighborhood Status Reports
Executive staff and the City Council are currently discussing the process to follow for updating neighborhood plans. 

Noise Code Amendments
This proposal updates noise measurement methods, creates a new “major public project construction” noise variance, and sets an earlier time (7 p.m.) to cease noisy construction in certain zones when residences are nearby.

Northgate Revitalization 
Work is now underway to revitalize Seattle's Northgate urban center. This project is part of Mayor Nickels' initiative to get Northgate moving.

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.

Residential Salvage and Deconstruction
DPD is proposing amendments to the Land Use Code to encourage builders and developers to salvage reusable materials from structures containing dwelling units.

SEPA Environmental Review 
DPD is proposing to change the City’s environmental review thresholds, which determine when new development is subject to environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

Shoreline Alternative Mitigation Plan 
The Seattle Shoreline Alternative Mitigation Plan will change the way that the city implements its Shoreline Master Program for the shoreline between the Hiram Chittenden Locks and the Montlake Cut.

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.

Side Sewer Revisions
The Side Sewer Code (Seattle Municipal Code 21.16) and its accompanying Director’s Rule (DR) address the design, construction and permitting requirements and regulations for side sewer work in the City of Seattle.

Sidewalks Improvement Initiative
The goal of this initiative is to expand and improve the current inventory of sidewalks into a safe, contiguous and geographically-appropriate pedestrian network throughout the city.

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

Stormwater Code
Stormwater regulations are needed to protect people, property, and the environment from damage that can be caused by stormwater runoffs.

Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative 
Seattle spends more than $650 million each year to build, renew, and repair infrastructure. This money is divided up between numerous departments, each with its own mission and priorities. An interdepartmental team at the City is suggesting that some portion of our capital spending might be more effective if it were directed at integrated, sustainable outcomes—outcomes that not only address expected levels of service, but also add value to the community, the environment, and the economy.

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.

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.

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

Workforce Housing Incentive
Mayor Nickels is proposing amendments to the Land Use Code to expand the use of incentive zoning programs beyond their current application in Downtown. The Workforce Housing Incentive has the potential to allow increased development capacity, in the form of additional height or floor area beyond that permitted outright on a lot.