Seattle Planning Commission Annual Reports, 1928-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
Title
Seattle Planning Commission Annual Reports
Dates
1928-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.4 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number
1802-H7
Summary
Annual reports discuss Commission activities in the areas of comprehensive planning, zoning, and transportation planning. Important projects discussed include the Comprehensive Plan, new Zoning Ordinance, and Central Business District Plan.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Planning Commission was established in 1924 and began meeting in 1925. It was established to address the large number of petitions and requests from various organizations and districts for major improvements involving new streets, street widening, bridges and regrades. In early years, the Commission included six appointive members and three ex-officio members; it later included citizens appointed by the Mayor for staggered three-year terms. By the 1950s the Commission was assisted by a permanent staff of professional planners and in 1967 the Charter was amended to enable the creation of a city planner position. The Planning Commission became part of the Department of Community Development (DCD) in 1972. DCD was abolished in 1992 and a Planning Department was established, absorbing the activities of the Office of Long Range Planning and the Human Services Strategic Planning Office.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Annual reports discuss activities, projects, and legislation as well as recommended actions, Commission members, and financial information. Early reports address changes in population and zoning issues. Post-World War II reports focus on comprehensive planning programs, transportation planning, and density issues. The 1946-1947 report takes the form of a "Diary of the Trials and Tribulations of a City Planning Commission." Reports in the late 1940s discuss the formulation of and progress on the Comprehensive Plan. Reports from the 1950s continue to discuss Comprehensive Plan progress and development of the new Zoning Ordinance. Other major Planning Commission projects discussed in the annual reports include the Central Business District Plan and Yesler-Atlantic and Leschi Neighborhood Plans. Statistics, charts, and maps appear in many reports.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Planning Commission Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-H7. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Annual reports are arranged chronologically by year.

Custodial History

Records were originally filed with the City Clerk in the Comptroller/Clerk's Files (CFs) and were removed to create this record series.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Seattle Planning Commission Annual ReportsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Planning Commission Annual Report (published and unpublished)
1928
1/1
Planning Commission Annual Report
1931
1/1
Planning Commission Annual Report
1945-1946
1/1
Planning Commission Annual Report
1946-1947
1/1
Planning Commission Annual Report
1948
1/2
Planning Commission Annual Report
1949
1/2
Planning Commission Annual Report
1950
1/2
Planning Commission Annual Report
1951
1/3
Planning Commission Annual Report
1952
1/3
Planning Commission Annual Report
1953
1/3
Planning Commission Annual Report
1954
1/4
Planning Commission Annual Report
1955
1/4
Planning Commission Annual Report
1956
1/4
Planning Commission Annual Report
1957
1/4
Planning Commission Annual Report
1958
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
1959
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
1960
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
1962
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
1963
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
1967
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
1995
1/5
Planning Commission Annual Report
2016

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Transportation--Planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Zoning--Washington (State)--Seattle

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government

Form or Genre Terms

  • Annual reports

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Seattle Planning Commission (creator)