Information on Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update

June 23, 2022 - SEPA Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on Scope of EIS

Description of proposal: The City of Seattle is conducting a major update of its Comprehensive Plan and implementing development regulation with the goal of adopting a new plan in 2024 (referred to as “One Seattle Plan”). Seattle’s goal is to make the city more equitable, livable, sustainable, and resilient for today’s communities and future residents.

The Major Update will reflect community needs and desires through a robust public engagement process, fulfill new requirements of the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A), and plan for growth for the period of 2024-2044. As part of this analysis, the City proposes to analyze five different alternatives, including a no action alternative, evaluating different approaches to accommodating housing and job growth to the year 2044. In addition, the proposal will include changes to the 130th and 145th Street Station Area Plan and options for the City to streamline future environmental review in that area, which may include a planned action (RCW 43.21c.440), or infill exemption (RCW 43.21C.229), or other tools available under state legislation (e.g., SB 5818). The proposal could also incorporate sub-area plans for Urban Centers as well as Manufacturing and Industrial Centers.

The Seattle Transportation Plan Update process, currently underway and run by Seattle Department of Transportation, will provide a separate EIS to test multimodal transportation system changes. Close coordination will occur between the Major Update and the Seattle Transportation Plan Update.

The lead agency has identified the following areas for study in the EIS to determine if there are any

significant environmental impacts:

▪ Earth and water quality

▪ Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions

▪ Plants and animals

▪ Energy and natural resources

▪ Noise

▪ Land use patterns and urban form

▪ Historic Resources

▪ Relationship to plans, policies, and regulations

▪ Population, employment, and housing

▪ Transportation

▪ Public Services: Police, Fire/Emergency Services, Parks, and Schools

▪ Utilities

Equity and climate resilience objectives will be developed across the environmental element studied.

GROWTH TARGETS IN GREENWOOD PHINNEY URBAN VILLAGE

Check out the growth in housing and jobs by Urban Center, Hub Urban Villages, and Residential Urban Villages. Note that Greenwood-Phinney Residential Urban Village has seen some of the city's largest growth in residential growth compared to other RUVs. Also we have greatly exceeded the growth estimates in the current plan.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l8DdjSw_sQTXIniqnHR8TncpVwtCAxfc/view?usp=sharing


More information on the EIS process and alternatives as well as materials related to the proposal may be reviewed on the project website: http://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan

The deadline to submit scoping comments is 5 pm, July 25, 2022.

Scoping meetings will be held online on June 29 and July 19.

Scoping Topics:

You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required. The method and deadline for providing comments is as follows:

Comments may be submitted 3 ways: (1) on the Comprehensive Plan Update engagement platform at engage.oneseattleplan.com; (2) by email to brennon.staley@seattle.gov; or (3) by letter to Brennon Staley, Office of Planning and Community Development, P.O. Box 94788, Seattle, WA 98124-708