The Planning Commission was established in 1924 and began meeting in 1925. It was established to address the large number of petitions and requests from various organizations and districts for major improvements involving new streets, street widening, bridges and regrades. In early years, the Commission included six appointive members and three ex-officio members; it later included citizens appointed by the Mayor for staggered three-year terms. By the 1950s the Commission was assisted by a permanent staff of professional planners and in 1967 the Charter was amended to enable the creation of a city planner position. The Planning Commission became part of the Department of Community Development (DCD) in 1972. DCD was abolished in 1992 and a Planning Department was established, absorbing the activities of the Office of Long Range Planning and the Human Services Strategic Planning Office.
Annual reports discuss activities, projects, and legislation as well as recommended actions, Commission members, and financial information. Early reports address changes in population and zoning issues. Post-World War II reports focus on comprehensive planning programs, transportation planning, and density issues. The 1946-1947 report takes the form of a "Diary of the Trials and Tribulations of a City Planning Commission." Reports in the late 1940s discuss the formulation of and progress on the Comprehensive Plan. Reports from the 1950s continue to discuss Comprehensive Plan progress and development of the new Zoning Ordinance. Other major Planning Commission projects discussed in the annual reports include the Central Business District Plan and Yesler-Atlantic and Leschi Neighborhood Plans. Statistics, charts, and maps appear in many reports.
Annual reports are arranged chronologically by year.
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Seattle Planning Commission Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-H7. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Records were originally filed with the City Clerk in the Comptroller/Clerk's Files (CFs) and were removed to create this record series.
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.