Seattle Planning Commission Reports and Studies

Seattle Planning Commission Reports and Studies, 1948-1965

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Seattle Planning Commission
Title: Seattle Planning Commission Reports and Studies
Dates: 1948-1965 (inclusive)
19481965
Quantity: 2 cubic feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number: 1650-07
Summary: Working papers of the Seattle Planning Commission relating primarily to the development of the Comprehensive Plan, a Civic Arts Center, and recreation studies throughout the city.
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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The City Planning Commission was created in 1924 to prepare plans and gather data for urban planning and the physical development of the City, to advise City Council on current problems and long range planning, and to participate in administration of the City's Zoning Ordinance. It was involved closely in the revision of the City's first zoning ordinance. An independent nine-member commission was established with adoption of a new City Charter in 1946. It was provided with authority to hire as needed to carry out its planning and advisory functions. The Commission was charged with advising the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on planning policies and physical development plans and projects. The Commission staff were responsible for the development of the City's first Comprehensive Plan in the mid-1950s. It also administered the Board of Adjustment following the latter's creation in 1957. The city planning process was reorganized in 1980 and the Commission's planning function was transferred to the Department of Community Development. The current Commission is an advisory agency that reviews development plans and reports to the Mayor and City Council. It is composed of 15 members all of who must be Seattle citizens.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Working papers of the Seattle Planning Commission relating primarily to the development of the Comprehensive Plan, a Civic Arts Center, and recreation studies throughout the city. The records are primarily those of John Spaeth, appointed as Director of the Seattle Planning Commission in 1948.

Comprehensive Plan files relate to zoning issues, including height issues, density, and land use studies. Recreation studies focus on Magnolia to a large extent but also include studies done on specific playgrounds in other neighborhoods. Papers of the Urban Design Advisory Board in the mid-1960s are also included.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Planning Commission Reports and Studies, Record Series 1650-07. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Separated Materials

Publications were removed from the collection and are cataloged separately in the Seattle Municipal Archives Published Documents Index.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Seattle Planning Commission Reports and Studies, 1948-1965Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Bitter Lake Study	undated
1/2	Central Business District (CBD) Action	1964-1965
1/3	Central Business District (CBD) Action (includes Ring Road, Central Waterfront, and Business Core)	1964-1965
1/4	Civic Arts Center - Correspondence	1945-1948
1/5	Civic Arts Center	1946-1949
1/6	Civic Arts Center - Preliminary Draft	1950
1/7	Civic Arts Inventory	1945-1950
1/8	Civic Arts Inventory	1950
1/9	Civic Arts Interviews	1950
1/10	Civic Arts Center Restudy	1949-1950
1/11	Civic Arts Center - Land Use and Valuation	1950
1/12	Landscaping - East Pacific St.	1951-1952
1/13	Recreation - E 80th and 25th NE (Picardo Gardens / Dahl Field)	1948-1949
1/14	Recreation - 28th and E Denny	1949
1/15	Recreation - Alki Playground, Chilberg at Carroll Ave	1950-1951
1/16	Recreation - Atlantic Playground, 22nd S at Judkins	1953
1/17	Recreation - Beacon Hill Triangle	1953
1/18	Recreation - Cherry, Summit, Minor - Proposed Park Area	1951
1/19	Recreation - Frink Park, Playground Equipment	1953
½0	Recreation - Playground Study, Graham St at 51st S.	1951-1956
½1	Recreation - Laurelhurst/Windermere Study	1949
½2	Recreation - Leschi Park	1949-1950
½3	Recreation - Magnolia Study	1948-1949
½4	Recreation - Magnolia (includes vacant land ownership study)	1949
½5	Recreation - Magnolia (Margaret Coughlin)	1950
½6	Recreation - Magnolia, Lawton Neighborhood Study	1950-1956
½7	Recreation - Magnolia	1953
½8	Recreation - Mt. Baker Bathhouse	1950
½9	Recreation - South Park	1950
1/30	Recreation - Southwest Seattle Playground Study, 26th SW and W Barton	1954
1/31	Recreation - Rainier Beach Shoreline	1955
2/1	School Building Use Policy	1959
2/2	Urban Design Advisory Board	1964
2/3	Urban Design Advisory Board	1964
2/4	Urban Design Advisory Board	1964
2/5	Zoning Ordinance - Correspondence	1956-1957
2/6	Zoning Ordinance - Correspondence	1958-1959
2/7	Zoning Ordinance - Employment Density/Industrial	1952-1954
2/8	Zoning Ordinance - Height, includes Boeing and KIRO (Antenna), also includes maps	1949-1957
2/9	Zoning Ordinance - Neighborhoods/Districts - University District, Ballard, Columbia City, Rainier, West Seattle	1956-1957
2/10	Zoning Ordinance - Denny Regrade, Studies	1960-1961
2/11	Zoning Ordinance - Denny Regrade, General Commercial / Floor Area Ratio (GC/FAR) Study	1962
2/12	Zoning Ordinance - Studies, Board of Adjustment, Height Arterials	1954-1956
2/13	Zoning Ordinance - Studies, Hintz Files	1951-1955
2/14	Zoning Ordinance - City-wide maps	1953-1958
2/15	Zoning Ordinance - Other Cities	1955-1956

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
Playgrounds--Washington (State)--Seattle
Zoning--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

Seattle Planning Commission

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.)

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Spaeth, John D. (creator)

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