Neighborhood plans were completed between 1995 and 2000 to manage growth in the neighborhoods, especially in light of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan and growth management strategy, adopted in 1994. Since neighborhood plans were completed, growth throughout Seattle has been generally consistent with expectations but has varied by neighborhood. In some neighborhoods growth has been far more or far less than anticipated.
The City Council passed legislation in September that authorizes the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the Department of Planning & Development (DPD) to work with Seattle’s citizenry to begin updating neighborhood plans where appropriate. The ordinance and a companion resolution will implement three key programs that together are intended to create a neighborhood-based planning process that is rooted in the good work citizens conducted in the 1990s.
1. Updating Plans — Neighborhood Plan updates will begin in Autumn 2008 in North Beacon Hill, North Rainier and MLK Jr. @ Holly. Each of these neighborhoods is home to a forthcoming light-rail station and experiencing or expecting significant new population and business growth.
2. Neighborhoods & Neighborhood-Plans Status Review — DON and DPD will work with neighborhood residents and business people to gather information to create snapshots of each neighborhood compared to 10 years ago. The status reports will help neighborhood advocates and the city recognize gaps and inform decisions about whether or how to update particular plans.
3. Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee (NPAC) — A committee formed entirely of Seattle residents and businesses-people will provide advise to DON and DPD on conducting the updates. The 24 committee members will include one representative from each of the 13 Neighborhood District Councils, the Chair of the Neighborhood District Council’s Planning Committee, two members of the Seattle Planning Commission and eight at-large appointees (four by the mayor and four by the Council).
