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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
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Historical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

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

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Administrative Information

Separated Materials

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

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

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)

Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla
2006

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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