Historical Note
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 Description
Annual reports date from 1928 to 1967. 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.