This Month in Advocacy: A Big Step Forward for Seattle’s Future
The One Seattle Comprehensive Plan is Seattle’s 20-year roadmap for growth. It shapes where and how we build housing, design transportation systems, protect open space, and guide investment in neighborhoods. This plan will influence the livability, affordability, and sustainability of our city for decades to come.
On Friday, September 19th, the Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan passed Phase I of the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan and HB 1110 Compliance legislation (as amended). They also set the docket for topics and amendments that will need further environmental study next year. The Comprehensive Plan is Seattle’s blueprint for the future. Every decision in it shapes how our city grows affecting housing abundance, transportation access, neighborhood livability, and sustainability.
What’s Next in the Comprehensive Plan Process?
The Council’s Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan will now require additional environmental review and public comment period.
Once those steps are complete, the full Council (the same members as the Select Committee) will vote on the final legislation. That vote is expected in late October or early November.
AIA Seattle’s Advocacy in Action
AIA Seattle has been deeply engaged over multiple years in advocacy throughout the Comprehensive Plan process. On September 10th, AIA Seattle shared a letter to Council recommending key policy priorities for Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
AIA Seattle’s letter supported key amendments to the Permanent Phase I Legislation and One Seattle Plan that expanded housing opportunities, improved affordability, and increased predictability. AIA Seattle supported restoring Neighborhood Centers, incentivizing stacked flats and ADUs, removing parking requirements, and adding flexibility for affordable housing, while opposing amendments that reduced clarity or slowed housing delivery.
Many of AIA Seattle’s recommendations were reflected in the proposed amendments, though some will require additional review and are on next year’s docket. This outcome represents years of steady advocacy, grounded in stakeholder and member input and effort. Read more in our FAQ + Facts Doc: Information to Address Misconceptions About the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan.
AIA Seattle Amplifies Member Voices
Beyond the Comprehensive Plan, AIA Seattle relationships with both the Mayor’s Office and City Council throughout the past several months have given AIA Seattle members opportunities to influence reforms such as:
- Design Review
- Permitting
- ADU/DADU legislation
These milestones are a testament to what we can accomplish together when we show up, share our expertise, and push for policies that reflect our values as an organization.
Design Review – Interim Legislation Approved
AIA Seattle has been advocating for clarity, efficiency, and equity in Design Review for decades. CB 121048, a policy which will continue to push forward Design Review reform, was passed unanimously by Seattle City Council with a 9-0 vote. This is an interim six month measure intended to give the city time to align with Washington State law which added new requirements for local design review programs.
CB121048 temporarily exempts housing projects that comply with Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements via on-site performance units from the city’s usual Design Review process. For housing that would otherwise be subject to Full Design Review, it gives applicants the option to instead go through an Administrative Design Review process. It suspends the requirement for voluntary design review of proposed development in Titles 23 and 25 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
In the months ahead, there will be opportunities for stakeholder engagement on Design Guidelines, and AIA Seattle will keep members informed on opportunities in the leadup to permanent legislation.
