OPCD summarizes public engagement on Seattle comprehensive plan; councilors press for clearer outreach and tree protections

Seattle '025 '005 '05 '0'0'0'0'0 The Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan on Feb. 5 heard a briefing from the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) on public engagement for the city—s draft comprehensive plan and accompanying zoning proposals. OPCD staff summarized outreach carried out across four engagement phases, described changes made between the spring and fall drafts, and said staff are still reviewing tens of thousands of public comments to inform forthcoming zoning legislation.

OPCD—s presentation focused on two rounds of citywide engagement that produced roughly 6,000 comments on the draft plan in spring 2024 and more than 9,000 comments during a fall 2024 comment period focused on proposed zoning maps, Michael, staff member at the Office of Planning and Community Development, told the committee. Michael said the spring engagement led staff to increase the number of proposed neighborhood centers from 24 to 30 and to revise the proposed neighborhood residential zoning.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan and the zoning that follows will guide where Seattle expects to accommodate growth over the next 20 years. Changes to growth strategy maps, neighborhood-center designations and zoning standards affect building scale, parking, tree canopy, infrastructure needs and the risk of displacement.

Most significant changes and where they came from - Growth strategy: OPCD said it increased the number of proposed neighborhood centers (from 24 to 30) after spring public comment and made limited boundary refinements in the mayor—s September recommended growth strategy. - Middle-housing/zoning standards: OPCD said the draft middle-housing…