Seattle Relaxes Development Standards to Spur Growth

A mixed bag of land-use changes, including relaxed parking standards and an increased threshold for environmental review, were passed by the Seattle City Council this week. Critics complain the legislation favors developers over residents.

1 minute read

July 26, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


In a scene playing out in cities across the country seeking to crawl out of the recession by "streamlining" land use regulations to stoke development and the creation of new jobs, Seattle passed "complex legislation" that "eases parking requirements for new development, raises the threshold for
environmental review to 200 residential units from 30, and eliminates a
requirement for ground-floor retail space outside of busy shopping
districts," reports Lynn Thompson.

"As we move Seattle in the direction of becoming more welcoming to
denser development around transit facilities, we should promote good
development, rather than trying to stop development because some of it
is problematic," Councilmember Richard Conlin said before the vote.

According to Thompson, neighborhood activists were particularly incensed by the relaxation of the environmental review threshold, "saying it eliminated an important avenue for communities to
weigh in on new buildings."

"It takes a tool away from neighborhoods willing to sit down with
developers and talk about their projects," said David Miller, president
of the Maple Leaf Community Council.

 

 

Monday, July 23, 2012 in The Seattle Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing