On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, the Council unanimously adopted a 378 page Council Bill 117585 comprising the first comprehensive update of Seattle’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) since 1987. Department of Planning and Development (DPD) staff began working on this update in 2007, and my Committee began our review last August. The SMP is an important [...]
Author: Richard Conlin (Richard Conlin)
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January 17, 2013January 6, 2023News Releases
MICROUNIT DEVELOPMENTS AKA “APODMENTS”
The first “micro-unit” development, sometimes known as “aPodments” (which is actually one developer’s trademarked term) was constructed several years ago. In the last few months there have been a number of others built, many on Capitol Hill, but in a few other areas of the City as well, such as the University District. “Micro-unit” developments [...]
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January 15, 2013January 6, 2023News Releases
HOW TO RECOVER FROM A DISASTER
Those of us involved in emergency preparedness in Seattle, along with thoughtful planners in other cities and the federal government, have realized that the immediate response to an emergency like an earthquake or a major storm is only the first step in dealing with it. It is critically important to have first responders who can [...]
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January 11, 2013January 6, 2023News Releases
MY TOP TEN LIST FOR 2012
2012 was my first year as Chair of the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee. I also Chaired the Council’s Special Committees on the SR 520 Project and the Library Levy, and was Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Yesler Terrace. I continued to serve as the Council representative on the Sound Transit Board [...]
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January 8, 2013January 6, 2023News Releases
NEW P-PATCHES AND PUBLIC GARDEN SPACE IN SEATTLE!
Every once in a while there’s an unexpected positive in the midst of negative impacts like those of the current recession. Seattle’s gardeners will benefit because the City projected inflation rates that were higher than have actually been experienced when the Council developed the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy. A lower inflation rate associated [...]
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January 3, 2013January 6, 2023News Releases
SOUND TRANSIT ADOPTS NEW TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT POLICY
On Thursday, December 20, the Sound Transit Board unanimously adopted a policy to focus and increase Sound Transit’s involvement in Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Policy guidance on TOD was a key topic of a Sound Transit Board retreat earlier this year. The new policy clarifies what Sound Transit can and will do to promote new [...]
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December 20, 2012January 6, 2023News Releases
ZERO WASTE IN CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
On Monday, December 10, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance taking the next step towards zero waste in the construction/demolition arena. The ordinance prohibits recyclable material from being disposed of in construction and demolition garbage containers, railhead intermodal containers, and the City’s transfer stations. It also creates a construction waste recycling facility certification program [...]
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December 13, 2012January 6, 2023News Releases
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY TO ADD 2500 STUDENTS AND 1500 FACULTY AND STAFF
On Monday, December 10, the Council unanimously adopted a new Major Institution Master Plan (MIMP) for Seattle University. The MIMP replaces the current plan, which was approved by Council in 1997 and expires this year. Under the new Master Plan, Seattle University is authorized to double in size, expanding from the 2.2 million square feet [...]
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December 12, 2012January 6, 2023News Releases
SOUTH LAKE UNION REZONE– SEVEN REALITIES
December 13, 2012 marks the six month anniversary of the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee’s first discussion of the South Lake Union rezone proposal. As we enter our seventh month of analysis, it is useful to keep in mind several facts that informed the legislation and that should frame our consideration going forward. [...]
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December 6, 2012January 6, 2023News Releases
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE AGENTS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
The venerable National League of Cities (NLC), which represents almost 2000 municipalities around the country, is evolving into an even more active change agent on behalf of urban areas. NLC has historically been a moderately progressive organization, focused on securing federal resources for cities. NLC’s membership includes many smaller and more conservative cities, and the [...]