Big Changes in the New Year for the Seattle Department of Planning and Development

Stephen Fessler reports on the impending changes at the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD), scheduled to take effect in the new year.

As reported earlier in June, Mayor Ed Murray directed the department to split into two. Fessler describes the departmental shuffling:

"Comprehensive, long-range, and code development planning work will be housed in the newly created Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD), a new unit within the Mayor's Office. Meanwhile, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) will be formed from the permitting and development review, construction and rental housing inspections, code compliance, and tenant protection competencies of today's DPD."

The reorganization has already proven tricky, however, with some changes of focus for the newly constituted OPCD:

"The Mayor had intended the OPCD to be a broad planning group with experts from nearly all current City departments and offices. The Mayor's stated goal in the organizational change was to integrate all city priorities and enhance coordination on how the city grows and invests. However, the initial direction has changed, and now the group will essentially consist of current staffers within the City Planning Division of DPD."

Fessler also details the personnel holes that have yet to be filled, including two division director positions. Along those lines, after leading the transition DPD Director Diane Sugimura will likely retire in 2016, after 38 years of service to the city, with 14 of those as director.