CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; amending the Seattle Comprehensive Plan to incorporate changes proposed as part of the 2023 Comprehensive Plan annual amendment process.
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WHEREAS, The City of Seattle adopted a Comprehensive Plan through Ordinance 117221 in 1994 and most recently adopted amendments to its Comprehensive Plan in December 2022 through Ordinance 126730; and
WHEREAS, the Growth Management Act, chapter 36.70A RCW, authorizes annual amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the adopted procedures in Resolution 31807 provide the process for interested citizens to propose annual Comprehensive Plan amendments for consideration by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, various parties proposed amendments for consideration during the 2022 annual amendment process; and
WHEREAS, on September 20, 2022, the City Council considered these proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments and adopted Resolution 32068, directing that City staff further review and analyze certain proposed amendments relating to the Industrial and Maritime Strategy; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 the City convened an Industrial and Maritime Strategy Council to advise the City on development of an Industrial and Maritime Strategy; and
WHEREAS, the stakeholder committee consisted of a City-wide committee and four regional committees representing Georgetown/South Park, SODO, Interbay, and Ballard; and
WHEREAS, the principles that guided the Industry and Maritime Strategy Council focused on:
• Actions to strengthen racial equity and recovery;
• Using the power of local workers and companies to chart a blueprint for the future using the principles of restorative economics to support the cultural, economic, and political power of communities most impacted by economic and racial inequities;
• Strengthening and growing Seattle’s industrial and maritime sectors so communities that have been excluded from the prosperity of our region can benefit from our future growth;
• Promoting equitable access to high quality, family-wage jobs and entrepreneurship for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color through an inclusive industrial economy and ladders of economic opportunity;
• Improving the movement of people and goods to and within industrial zones and increasing safety for all travel modes;
• Aligning Seattle’s industrial and maritime strategy with key climate and environmental protection goals; and
• Developing a proactive land use policy agenda that harnesses growth and economic opportunities to ensure innovation and industrial jobs are a robust part of our future economy that is inclusive of emerging industries and supportive of diverse entrepreneurship; and
WHEREAS, in May 2021 the Industrial and Maritime Strategy Council issued a report recommending eleven strategies to advance the guiding principles of the Council; and
WHEREAS, six of the 11 strategies recommended some changes to land use; and
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2021, pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the City’s environmental polices set out in Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 23.50, the Office of Planning and Community Development issued a Determination of Significance and initiated a SEPA scoping period to seek public comment on four distinct land use alternatives each based on a new industrial land policy framework reflective of the Strategy Council’s recommendations and received 105 comments; and
WHEREAS, on December 15, 2021 Office of Planning and Community Development issued the Industrial and Maritime Strategy Draft Environmental Impact Statement; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) held two public hearings during a 75-day public comment period and received 142 comments; and
WHEREAS, in September 2022 Office of Planning and Community Development issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement featuring a preferred alternative; and
WHEREAS, OPCD is proposing five ordinances that together implement the land use strategies recommended by the Industrial and Maritime Strategy Council and that were studied in the Industrial and Maritime Strategy Environmental Impact Statement, including this ordinance amending Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan to create a new land use policy framework; and
WHEREAS, these proposed amendments has have been reviewed and analyzed by OPCD and considered by the Council; and
WHEREAS, the City has provided for public participation in the development and review of these proposed amendments and other changes to comply with the Growth Management Act, including requirements for early and continuous public participation in the development and amendment of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Council has reviewed and considered the Director’s report and recommendations, public testimony made at the public hearings, and other pertinent material regarding all the proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that this amendment to the Comprehensive Plan is consistent with the Growth Management Act, and will protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the general public; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Seattle Comprehensive Plan, last amended by Ordinance 126730, is amended to include amendments to the Land Use Element as shown in Attachment 1 to this ordinance.
Section 2. The Future Land Use Map and the boundaries of the Ballard-Interbay-Northend Manufacturing Industrial Center, the Greater Duwamish Manufacturing/Industrial Center, and the South Park Urban Village are amended as shown in Attachments 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to this ordinance, and these same amendments should be reflected on the following maps in the Comprehensive Plan:
• Growth Strategy Figure 4: Urban Centers, Urban Villages, Manufacturing/Industrial Centers, on page 31;
• Ballard-Interbay-Northend Manufacturing/Industrial Center, on page 215;
• Georgetown Neighborhood Anchor, on page 314; and
• Duwamish Manufacturing/Industrial Center, on page 318.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force: 90 days after its approval or unsigned and returned by the Mayor; 90 days after the City Council's reconsidered passage after its veto by the Mayor; or, if not returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, 105 days after its passage by the City Council.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2023, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2023.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this _____ day of _________________, 2023.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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Elizabeth M. Adkisson, Interim City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Amendments to the Land Use Element
Attachment 2 - Amendments to the Comprehensive Future Land Use Map - Georgetown
Attachment 3 - Amendments to the Comprehensive Future Land Use Map - Judkins Park
Attachment 4 - Amendments to the Comprehensive Future Land Use Map - South Park
Attachment 5 - Amendments to the Comprehensive Future Land Use Map - NW 48th Street and 9th Avenue NW
Attachment 6 - Amendments to the Comprehensive Future Land Use Map - South side of W Commodore Way at 31st Avenue W