Board of Adjustment Reports, 1957 -1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Department of Community Development
Title
Board of Adjustment Reports
Dates
1957 -1979 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.0 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number
1640-04
Summary
Copies of Board reports to City Council, including report letters to City Council and appeals to Council of Board actions, as well as statistical breakdowns of the type of appeals.
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
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Board of Adjustment was created in 1957 by the new Zoning Ordinance. It was a division of the City Planning Commission and had power to hear, decide, and grant or deny applications for variances and conditional use permits. The Board began hearing zoning and variance appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner (3400) following the latter's creation in 1973. In 1980, application and appeal processes were consolidated in the Department of Construction and Land Use (2000) with development of the Master Use Permit system. The Board functions were superceded and it was abolished in 1981.

The City Planning Commission was created by ordinance in 1924 and was first included in the City Charter in 1946. The Commission's role was to prepare plans and gather data for the 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 provided with the authority to hire as needed to carry out its planning and advisory functions. However, the Planning Commission's decisions needed to be passed by ordinance before they became effective.

Between 1924 and 1974, the Commission's membership was changed periodically by ordinance. It varied in size from 9 to 25 members. The composition of the Commission also varied but always consisted of a percentage of the following: Mayoral appointees, ex-officio members from various government departments, as well as representatives elected by various government agencies.

With the creation of the Department of Community Development in 1969, the Commission became a part of the Department of Community Development. For the purpose of having a more broad-based membership, in 1974 the Commission membership was changed to be comprised of 15 Seattle citizens, appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council. If at all possible, the citizens would come from different neighborhoods and a variety of disciplines would be represented.

Due to reorganizations in city government, the Planning Commission became a part of the Office of Policy Planning in 1974 then was returned to the Department of Community Development in 1979. In 1980, an independent office of the Planning Commission was established. The Planning Commission would no longer review site-specific land use applications and permits. Its city planning functions were transferred to the Department of Community Development.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Copies of Board reports to City Council, including report letters to City Council and appeals to Council of Board actions, as well as statistical breakdowns of the type of appeals.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Board of Adjustment Reports, Record Series 1640-04. 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.

1640-04:  Board of Adjustment Reports, 1957-1979 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Appeal Reports
1958
1/2
Appeal Reports
1959
1/3
Appeal Reports
1961
1/4
Appeal Reports
1962
1/5
Appeal Reports
1963
1/6
Appeal Reports
1964
1/7
Appeal Reports
1965
1/8
Appeal Reports
1966
1/9
Appeal Reports
1967
1/10
Appeal Reports
1968-1969
1/11
Appeal Reports
1969
1/12
Appeal Reports
1970
1/13
Appeal Reports
1970-1971
1/14
Appeal Reports
1971
1/15
Appeal Reports - Miscellaneous Reports
1960-1961
1/16
Appeal Reports - Miscellaneous Reports
1967-1973
1/17
Appeal Reports - Letters to Council
1960
1/18
Appeal Reports - Letters to Council
1972
1/19
Appeal Reports - Letters to Council
1972-1973
1/20
Appeal Reports - Letters to Council
1972-1973
1/21
Appeal Reports - Letters to Council
1972-1973
1/22
Appeal Reports - Applications Appealed to City, Summary
1957-1959
1/23
Appeal Reports - Applications Appealed to City, Summary
1960-1961
1/24
Appeal Reports - Applications Appealed to City, Summary
1962-1965
1/25
Appeal Reports - Applications Appealed to City, Summary
1966-1970
1/26
Appeal Reports - Applications Appealed to City, Summary
1970-1971
1/27
Type of Applications
1957-1958

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • City planning--Seattle (Wash.)
  • Real estate development--Seattle (Wash.)
  • Zoning --Seattle (Wash.)

Corporate Names

  • Board of Adjustment
  • Department of Community Development

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Seattle City Planning Commission (creator)