Why does Seattle create a comprehensive plan?

Soundside

Seattle is taking on one of the more contentious issues to regularly pass through city hall: the Comprehensive Plan. That plan dictates where and how the city will add more people.

And previous plans concentrated new apartments and condos along busy streets with access to transit.

But why do cities like Seattle have to engage in this planning exercise at all? It goes back to a law called the Growth Management Act.

Guests:

Joe Tovar, Associate Professor in the planning department at the University of Washington and Western Washington University

Karen Wolf, Interim Program Director of the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington

John Landis, Professor Emeritus of City & Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania

Relevant Links:

One Seattle Comprehensive Plan: https://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan

KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-will-the-next-comprehensive-plan-shape-seattle

KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/where-should-seattle-build-homes-for-newcomers-49ae

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.