Archives West Finding Aid

The Neighborhood Planning Office (NPO) was created in 1994 to implement the goals of the Comprehensive Plan for neighborhood planning. The office began work in January 1994 with a goal of creating 30 neighborhood plans in four years. The program was extended for a fifth year, after which the office was folded into the Department of Neighborhoods (DON). Throughout the planning process the NPO worked with the Office of Management and Planning (OMP) and DON. Each neighborhood was assigned a staff member to oversee the planning process, and consultants were hired to facilitate communication between community members. Areas of priority were urban centers, manufacturing and industrial centers, urban villages, and distressed areas.

The Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee (NPAC) was established by the City Council in 1994 to assist with the development and implementation of the Neighborhood Planning Office. The Committee was made up of one person from each neighborhood district commission and up to six people chosen by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to provide diversity and citywide perspective. Members included representatives from the City Neighborhood Council, District Councils, the Seattle City Council, directors of City departments, and delegates from neighborhood planning groups. NPAC and NPO worked together to create guidelines and to plan the phases of the Neighborhood Planning Project.