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)
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)