Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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
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)