Our Work
The dropdown menu below includes City projects the Planning Commission worked on between 2018 - present. Please visit the SPC Work Archive for topics prior to 2018.
For a library of independent initiatives generated by the Commission, visit the Commission resources page.
Visit the Office of Planning and Community Development's website to view the latest documents related to the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
Recent Work Library
Seattle Comprehensive Plan
A brief history of the Commissions work supporting the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Annual Amendment Process
Each year the City Council can consider amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. Amendments can be proposed by members of the public or City staff. The Planning Commission reviews every proposal and advises the City Council on which ones should be added to a docket of proposals that will be considered for adoption the following year. In that review, the Commission assesses whether the proposals meet a set of criteria that determine eligibility for being considered by Council.
There is a separate review process where the Commission assesses the merits of the proposals that were placed on the docket the previous year, and gives their recommendations about which of the proposals should be adopted.
2022 - 2023
Docket setting letter for 2022 - 2023
2021 - 2022
Docket setting letter for 2021 - 2022
Major Comprehensive Plan Update - Seattle 2044
Commission work on the major update to the Comprehensive Plan can be viewed on the page linked above.
2020 - 2021
Final recommendations on the 2020 proposed amendments
2019 - 2020
Docket setting letter for 2019 - 2020
Final recommendations on the 2019 proposed amendments
2018 - 2019
Docket setting letter for 2018 - 2019 amendment cycle
Final recommendations on the 2018 proposed amendments
2017 - 2018
Final recommendations on the 2017 proposed amendments
Docket setting letter for 2017 - 2018 amendment cycle
2016 - 2017
Final recommendations on the annual 2016 proposed amendments
Docket setting letter for 2016 - 2017 amendment cycle
2015 - Major Comprehensive Plan Update - Seattle 2035
Commission letter to the Chair of the City Council's Planning Land Use and Zoning Committee of the Seattle City Council on the Mayor's Recommended Plan
Commission letter on the Public Draft of the Major Update to the Comprehensive Plan-Seattle 2035
Commission comment letter on the Seattle 2035 Equity Analysis
Commission letter to the Mayor on creating a more accessible and readable Comprehensive Plan document.
Commission letter on draft #4 of the major Comprehensive Plan update in preparation for the release of the public draft.
Commission letter expressing our support for elevating the prominence of Social Equity in the City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
To assist in our review of the update to the Citywide Comprehensive Plan, we requested a few clarifying documents and a commitment to the core values. Our letter can be read here.
Recommendations on the Major Update to the Comprehensive Plan Draft Alternatives for the Environmental Impact Statement. These alternatives will help in drafting the final Comprehensive Plan.
2014 - 2015
docket setting recommendations for 2014-2015 amendment cycle
2013 - 2014
Recommendations on the Stadium District amendment
Final Recommendations on the 2012 proposed amendments
Docket setting letter for 2013 - 2014 amendment cycle
2011 - 2012
Docket setting letter for 2010 -2011 amendment cycle
Final recommendations on the 2010 proposed amendments
We proposed several Comprehensive Plan Amendments in 2010 to advance and implement nine strategies of the Commission's 2008 Affordable Housing Action Agenda.
2009 - 2010
Docket setting letter for 2009 - 2010 annual amendment cycle
Final recommendations on the 2008 proposed amendments
2008 - 2009
Final recommendations on the 2007 proposed amendments
2007-2008
Final recommendations on the 2006 proposed amendments
Letter on the 2007 threshold resolution
2006 - 2007
Final recommendations on the 2005 proposed amendments
2005 - 2006
Final recommendations on the 2004 proposed amendments
Major Comprehensive Plan Update 2004
November 2004 - Final Comments Letter to the Council
June 2004 - Letter to Department of Planning and Development staff on the proposed comprehensive plan update
June 2004 - A more detailed view of our comments on the Comprehensive Plan update
Seattle Transportation Plan
Click here to view the Planning Commission's comment letter on the Seattle Transportation Plan SEPA Scoping Process.
Year In Review
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2022
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2021
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2020
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2019
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2018
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2017
Click here to view the Year in Review for 2016
The Seattle Planning Commission has closely followed the process to develop the Industrial and Maritime Strategy.
In February of 2022 the Commission commented on the Draft EIS for the Industrial and Maritime Strategy. You can view and download the comments here.
In July of 2021 the Commission provided a letter with recommendations to help inform the adoption of policies identified in the strategy. You can view and download the letter here.
You can also learn more about the development of the strategy, and next steps on the City's website: https://www.seattle.gov/opcd/ongoing-initiatives/industrial-and-maritime-strategy
The Seattle Planning Commission released a letter of support for the Permenent Suportive Housing legislation developed by Councilmember Lewis.
Sound Transit 3
Click here to view the Planning Commission's comment letter on the Draft EIS for the West Seattle Ballard Link Extension from April 2022.
Click here to view the Planning Commission's letter on the Level III alternatives for ST3. The letter provides recommendations for the evaluation of alternatives in the alignment of the West Seattle to Ballard line.
Click here to view the Planning Commission's letter on the future Chinatown/International District & Delridge stations for Sound Transit 3.
Click here to view the Planning Commission's letter to Sound Transit. The letter contains recommendations for the scoping of West Seattle Ballard Link Extensions Environmental Impact Statement.
Click here to view the Planning Commission's letter from September 2018, on the Level II alternatives for ST3. The letter provides recommendations for the evaluation of alternatives in the alignment of the West Seattle to Ballard line.
ST3 Project Timeline:
Sound Transit is currently completing Phase 2 of their alternatives evaluation, which will determine which alternatives move forward into Level 3 screening, which is the final round of evaluation for the Alternatives Development phase. Level 3 concludes in March 2019 with final recommendations. The Sound Transit Board will make a final decision on which alternatives to study in the EIS in April or May 2019. Environmental analysis will take about three years, and a Record of Decision (ROD) is expected in 2022. West Seattle stations expected in 2030, and the Ballard to CID stations expected in 2035
Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA)
As Seattle continues to grow, it is more important than ever to take advantage of this growth to achieve a net gain in affordable housing units as soon as possible. MHA is a significant and critical tool in building a more affordable, inclusive, and equitable Seattle for all.
In 2019, the Commission provided testimony on MHA. You can read the prepared testimony here.
Click here to view the Commission's recommendations for implementing MHA (2017).
The Commission shared comments with the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development regarding the development of the MHA policy in (2016). You can view that comment letter here.
Accessory Dwelling Unit EIS
In 2018, The Planning Commission reviewed the Office of Planning and Community Development's Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed changes for land use regulations pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units in Seattle. You can view our letter here. Visit the OPCD Website for updates on the legislative process.
Equitable Development Initiative
The Planning Commission is engaging with the Office of Planning and Community Development during the design of indicators to monitor displacement. The release of the selected indicators is anticipated in 2020. Check back for the Planning Commission's forthcoming recommendations for City departments and elected officials based on the findings in the monitoring report.