Comprehensive Plan Amendments

The city's Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan), titled "Toward a Sustainable Seattle," is a document created in 1994 that sets out the goals, values and policies guiding us as we accommodate growth over time. It's a blueprint for growing responsibly.

The Washington State Growth Management Act gives Seattleites the opportunity to amend our Comprehensive Plan once a year.  Anyone can suggest an amendment, including neighbors, business owners, councilmembers and City staff.  Proposed amendments (see application) may include changes to policies, the future land use map, appendices, or other components of the Comprehensive Plan. To be eligible for consideration, applications for proposed amendments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 16th. A review calendar then plays out through March 31 of the following year.

Following the submission deadline, the process involves two separate reviews by the City Council. 

• Screening: In the first review, the Council holds a public hearing around the first week of July, reviews feedback, and then (by the end of July) identifies the amendments that will be analyzed and considered in the cycle. The City Council uses adopted criteria in selecting Comp Plan amendments to consider.
• Analysis: Executive staff and the Planning Commission then analyze the list of possible amendments Council identified in the July screening.
• Final Action: By November 20 of each year, the Executive submits an ordinance containing the Mayor's recommended amendments for the Council to consider. From November to the end of March Council reviews the staff work, hears from the public, and then considers adoption of the proposals. A final, amended ordinance, adopted by the Council before March 31, adds the selected amendments into the Comprehensive Plan.

For the 2011-2012 Comp Plan amendment cycle, proposals from the public were due by May 16. Council's goal is to take final action on proposals by March 31, 2012.

7- Year Major Update
This year the City will begin a 7-year major update to the Comp Plan required by the Growth Management Act.  This will likely culminate in Council action on a bill in 2013.  The Council may elect to defer amendments proposed in May to consideration as part of the 7-year major update or the first annual amendment cycle after the 7-year update.  For more information on the 7-year major update, please contact Tom Hauger of the Department of Planning and Development at 206-684-8380 or tom.hauger@seattle.gov.

Questions?

If you have questions or would like additional information about the Comprehensive Plan, please call Ketil Freeman of Council Central Staff at (206) 684-8178. To receive a copy of recommendations and notification of public hearing dates, call the number above or e-mail Ketil at ketil.freeman@seattle.gov.