Seattle council passes zoning changes to protect industrial, port areas
The Seattle City Council unanimously approved a suite of land-use measures Tuesday designed to protect the city’s industrial and maritime industries from encroaching housing development and amend the city’s comprehensive plan with a new industrial land-use policy.
“This adds important protections and the needed flexibility for our industrial and maritime lands,” said Councilmember Dan Strauss, who is the chair of the city’s land-use committee, sponsor of the bills and who oversaw discussions on the issue.
The city’s current maritime and industrial policy is more than 35 years old, Strauss said, belying the economic importance of that sector. Seattle's manufacturing and industrial centers (MICs) make up about 12% of its total land area and 15% of its total employment, representing around 100,000 jobs.
Mayor Bruce Harrell proposed the measures in April.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2023/07/18/seattle-city-council-unanimously-approves-industri.html