The Zoning Commission was established in 1920 to survey the City, divide it into districts or zones, and recommend land use in those areas. The City Engineer, Superintendent of Buildings, one Parks Trustee, and six individuals appointed by the Mayor comprised the Commission membership. In 1923, the Commission presented a draft ordinance to City Council which became the City's first Zoning Code. Commission activities were superseded by creation of the City Planning Commission in 1924. Although inactive, the Commission was not abolished until 1936.
The Zoning Commission minutes consist of proceedings of regular and special meetings. Minutes contain information on members present, petitions and letters from Seattle citizens or citizens' groups, resolutions of the Commission, and reports of special committees. Classification of properties or districts (into such categories as Business, Residence, or Manufacturing), as well as building height limits and suggested amendments to zoning code, are discussed in the minutes.
The early minutes include reports from other cities regarding zoning used by Seattle as the city began the process of establishing zoning districts. Harland Bartholomew, City Plan Engineer of St. Louis, visited Seattle to assist the Zoning Commission; many of his reports and communications are discussed in the minutes. Also of interest are the minutes relating to controversy regarding packing houses in the Beacon Hill neighborhood; the late 1920 and early 1921 minutes discuss the issue at length.
Minutes are arranged chronologically.
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Zoning Commission Minutes, Record Series 1651-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.