WaSMAR1640_04.xml Guide to the Board of Adjustment Reports 1957-1979 Board of Adjustment Reports Finding aid prepared by Ellie Letterman Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Seattle Municipal Archives © 2011
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
Finding aid encoded by Ellie Letterman 2011 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Seattle Municipal Archives
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
1640-04 Department of Community Development Board of Adjustment Reports 1957 -1979 1.0 cubic foot 1 box 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. Collection materials are in English Historical Note

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 The Board functions were superceded and it was abolished in 1981.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.

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.

Records are open to the public.

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

Department of Community Development Board of Adjustment Seattle City Planning Commission Zoning --Seattle (Wash.) Real estate development--Seattle (Wash.) City planning--Seattle (Wash.) City Planning

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

1640-04 Board of Adjustment Reports 1957-1979 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