On December 10, 2024, City Council adopted the Envision SeaTac 2044 major update to the Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and development regulations. Over 480 parcels throughout the city were also rezoned. All changes to policies, codes, and zoning are in effect as of January 1, 2025. See more information below.

PROJECT NEWS

Final Envision SeaTac 2044 Comprehensive Plan Now Available 

The final versions of the Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Master Plan adopted by City Council on December 10, 2024, are available here: www.seatacwa.gov/government/comprehensive-plan.

New Development Regulations and Zoning in Effect January 1, 2025

New regulations, zone names, and citywide rezones were adopted by City Council on December 10, 2024, as part of the Envision SeaTac 2044 project. The changes implement the new City vision and growth strategy. (Scroll down to "Project Background and Materials" to find out more.)

Zoning of your property: SEATAC INTERACTIVE REZONE MAP
***Note: In the rezone map, the zones noted as "PROPOSED" were adopted and are in effect as of January 1, 2025.

Map identifying parcels rezoned: REZONED PARCELS MAP

Zoning Map in effect Jan. 1, 2025: ZONING MAP

Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map in effect Jan. 1, 2025:  COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP

Development Codes in Effect Jan. 1, 2025 

• Chapter 15.100-120 SMC: Zoning Code Authority and Purpose, Definitions, Land Use Actions and Procedures, Nonconformance
• Chapters 15.200 and 205 SMC: Zone Descriptions, General Land Use Chart
• Chapters 15.300-315 SMC: Overlay Districts with use charts; Overlay Zones
• Chapters 15.400-480 SMC: Dimensional Standards Charts, Landscaping, Fences, Density, Development and Height Incentives, EV Infrastructure, Parking, Subsidiary Uses, Wireless
• Chapters 15.500-515 SMC: Design Standards
• Chapter 3.85 SMC: Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program (MFTE) amendments
• Title 11: Right-of-Way Use Code, Impact Fees, Concurrency
• Title 13: Clearing and Grading, Off-site and On-site Improvements
• Title 14: Subdivisions
• Title 16A: Permit processing amendments
• Miscellaneous code amendments: Hearing Examiner, Emergency Management, Sign Code, Reference Clean-up
  

Envision SeaTac 2044 Adopted on December 10, 2024

City Council, at the Regular Council Meeting on December 10, adopted the Envision SeaTac 2044 major update to the Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and development regulations with the two amendments listed below. The Ordinance is effective January 1, 2025.

Amendment 1:

• Amend the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map by changing the land use designations of the two parcels that underlie the Bow Lake Estates Manufactured Home Park, specifically, parcel numbers 342304-9008 and 342304-9096, as follows:
  
  • Remove “Urban Residential Medium,” and
  • Replace it with “Urban Residential High.”
• Amend the Zoning Map by changing the zoning of the two parcels that underlie the Bow Lake Estates Manufactured Home Park, specifically, parcel numbers 342304-9008 and 342304-9096, as follows:
  • Remove the “Manufactured Home Park zone,” and
  • Replace it with the “Urban Residential High zone.”
• Amend the Comprehensive Plan to replace the implementation strategy for Housing Goal 5.6.

 Amendment 2:

• Change the 8-year tax exemption program in SMC 3.85.060(A)(2) to require at least twenty (20) dwelling units of multifamily housing to be eligible for the 8-year exemption but retain the allowance for a minimum of four (4) dwelling units of multifamily housing for the 12-year tax exemption program in SMC 3.85.060(B).

The Final Draft proposals are the outcome of the City's major periodic update process for the Comprehensive Plan and related development regulations, required every ten years by the State Growth Management Act (GMA). The Envision project kicked off in early 2023, including a robust, inclusive, continuous community engagement process, significant data gathering and technical analyses, and regular input from the Planning Commission and City Council's Planning & Economic Development (PED) Committee. Per state law, periodic updates must be adopted by December 31, 2024.

• Click here to see the Final Draft documents

PROJECT BACKGROUND & MATERIALS

Scroll down to see background information about the Envision project, materials from public meetings, and Planning Commission and City Council briefing documents.

FAQ INFORMATION SHEETS ON PROPOSED REZONES
Property Values & Property Tax FAQ

INFORMATION BOARDS FROM COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Proposed Citywide Rezone Information Boards (from August community meetings)
Proposed Updates to City Growth Strategies Information Boards (includes proposals for Urban Villages, Neighborhood Villages and Corner Stores)

Neighborhood Village Zone & Urban Village Zone FAQ
Proposed Rezone General FAQ (includes property tax and other information)

Proposed Rezone Parcels
Proposed Zoning Map
Existing Zoning Map
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Map (the Comprehensive Plan Map establishes the type of zoning allowed on the City's zoning map)  
Existing Comprehensive Plan Map 
(***Scroll down to see more project information boards from August community meetings and other information.)
***New Information Sheets***
Neighborhood Village Zone & Urban Village Zone FAQ
Proposed Rezone General FAQ

August 2024 Community Planning Meeting Materials

Over 100 people attended three community meetings in August in the north, central, and south ends of the city and provided feedback on proposed changes to SeaTac's Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Master Plan, proposed citywide rezones, and other City initiatives. After almost two years of analysis, data gathering, and community input, the Public Review Draft of proposed changes to the City's growth and development policies and codes is available for public review.

Meeting Materials

Meeting Presentation
Envision SeaTac 2044 & Transportation Master Plan Presentation (presentations for North, Central, and South Neighborhoods meetings the same except for geographically specific slides)

Envision SeaTac 2044 Project Display Boards
Welcome Table
Envision SeaTac 2044 Project Background
Recent State Changes to Housing Laws in Washington (includes information on the legislation that will allow middle housing types in areas where single family is currently allowed by June 2025)
Proposed Updates to City Vision Statement
Proposed Updates to City Growth Strategies (includes proposals for Urban Villages, Neighborhood Villages and Corner Stores)
Proposed Updates to Current "Complete Neighborhoods" Policies

Proposed Citywide Rezones (proposed changes support updated City Vision and growth strategies)
Proposed Zoning Map (to be posted in near future)
Existing Zoning Map
Existing Comprehensive Plan Map (the Comprehensive Plan Map establishes the type of zoning allowed on the City's zoning map)  

Transportation Master Plan Update Project Display Boards
Tell Us About You Poster
Getting Around Poster (transportation future and current needs)
Transportation Master Plan: Planning Process Poster
Pedestrian Projects
Future Pedestrian Projects - North Neighborhoods
Future Pedestrian Projects - Central Neighborhoods
Future Projects - South Neighborhoods
Bicycle Projects
Future Bicycle Projects - North Neighborhoods
Future Bicycle Projects - Central Neighborhoods
Future Bicycle Projects - South Neighborhoods

About the Project

In 2023 and 2024, the City undertook a major update to its Comprehensive Plan to address new City priorities and state and regional growth management guidance identified since the last periodic update in 2015. The project re-set SeaTac's twenty-year growth and development policies for the years 2024 to 2044. Updates focused on the following key project themes:

Key Project Themes

• Wellbeing and Access to Opportunity: Increase access to opportunity and wellbeing.
• Growing Urban Villages Near Light Rail: Focus growth in urban villages near light rail with a variety of options for living, working, and recreating.
• Healthy, Equitable, Connected, and Complete Neighborhoods: Strengthen all neighborhoods and ensure they are well-served by supportive infrastructure and amenities.
• Multimodal Transportation: Provide connected, efficient, multimodal transportation networks.
• Housing for All: Increase housing types and affordable options.
• Economic Vitality: Increase economic opportunities that empower residents and support the business community.
• Resilient Built and Natural Environments: Enhance the resiliency of SeaTac's built and natural environments.

Project Resources & Documents

 City Vision Poll Findings Report
The project team appreciates the 251 people who took the poll and shared their ideas and priorities for how the City should grow in the future. Click here to access the report: City Vision Poll Findings Report

2024 Comprehensive Plan Docket Process & Envision Project
The docket process is a procedure for receiving and evaluating proposals to amend the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations. While SeaTac generally opens the Comprehensive Plan to amendments biennially, in odd-numbered years, the 2024 amendment process was integrated within the Envision SeaTac 2044 project. For more information, see the 2024 Docket Process webpage.

 ADDITIONAL RESOURCE DOCUMENTS

Envision signed DNS

SeaTac Comprehensive Plan (current)

Envision SeaTac 2044 Public Participation Plan

PLANNING COMMISSION DOCUMENTS
The Planning Commission is the Envision project's main community advisory group and generally receives monthly project briefings. Review materials from Planning Commission work sessions are below.
Note: Envision SeaTac 2044 briefing materials are sometimes combined with other "Planning Our City Together" project documents including those related to the Transportation Master Plan Update and City Center/Airport District Subarea Plan projects.
2024
Jan 2: Preliminary Docket and update on "Planning Our City Together" projects memo, presentation, and Preliminary Docket Staff Evaluation Matrix
Jan 30: Growth Scenario Work Session Part 1 memo, presentation
Feb 6: Growth Scenario Work Session Part 2 memo, presentation
March 19: City Vision Poll Findings and Policy Development Next Steps memo, presentation, City Vision Poll Findings Report
April 16: Land Use Element Draft 1 Proposed Updates memo, presentation, Land Use Policy Review Matrix
April 30: PC Comments on Land Use Element Draft 1 and Introduction to New Urban Center and Neighborhoods Chapters memo and presentation
May 7: Proposed New Urban Center and Neighborhoods Chapters memo , presentation (Urban Center Policy Review Matrix and Neighborhoods Chapter Policy Review Matrix)
May 21: Introduction to current Housing policies, strategies, codes and background on racially disparate impacts, displacement and exclusion in housing policies and regulations memo, presentation
June 4: Proposed updates to housing goals and policies memo, presentation, Housing Policy Review Matrix
June 18: Proposed updates to land use and zoning designations (including Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map) to support new growth strategy memo, presentation; materials; Proposed updates to Transportation Element memo, presentation, Transportation Element Policy Review Matrix
July 2: Follow up on Draft 1 Transportation policies presentation; Follow up on proposed changes to Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map, land use and zoning designations presentation, Findings from analysis of housing needs, racially disparate impacts and land capacity related to proposed housing and land use policy updates presentation.
July 16: Envision project proposed citywide rezones (to implement new growth strategies and "consistency" rezones that change zoning of parcels to match their Comprehensive Plan land use designation) memo, presentation, Proposed Comprehensive Plan Map with new growth strategy rezones, Proposed "Consistency" Rezoning Map with current "under" zoned and "over" zoned parcels, Port of Seattle property rezone letter of agreement, proposed Housing policy implementation strategies.
Aug 6: Overview of proposed policy updates memo, proposed updates to Transportation Element, Transportation Policy Review Matrix, Housing policy implementation strategies, and updates to Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Element, Environment Element, Utilities Element, and Capital Facilities Element.
Aug 20: Transportation Master Plan memo, Future Multimodal Conditions memo, Envision policy and implementation strategies update memo, proposed updates to Introduction Chapter (including proposed updates to City Vision Statement) and Economic Vitality proposed updates to policies and implementation strategies within the Land Use, Urban Center, and Neighborhoods elements. Proposed Envision project "Code Package 3" amendments memo, code amendment tracking matrix, proposed code amendments.
Sept 17: Briefing on review process for all components included within Public Review Draft documents including draft Comprehensive Plan Volumes 1 and 2, Transportation Master Plan, code amendments, and proposed zoning map.
Oct 1: Overview of public comments received at August community planning meetings, review urban village and neighborhood village code amendments, schedule update memo, presentation, public comment summary and meeting displays, proposed code amendments.
Oct 15: Envision SeaTac 2044 Public Hearing memo, presentation, staff report.
Oct 29: Planning Commission deliberation and recommendation memo, presentation, Public Hearing Comment Summary & Staff Response, final written public comment.

2023
Aug 15: "Planning Our City Together" project branding rollout (the "Planning Our City Together" projects include the Envision SeaTac 2044, Transportation Master Plan update, and City Center/Airport District subarea plan projects), Envision SeaTac 2044 project update & community engagement memo, presentation
Sept 19: Online City Vision Poll launch memo, presentation
Oct 17: Envision SeaTac 2044 Public Participation Plan and approach to equity memo, presentation, and Public Participation Plan document
Nov 21: Phase 2 "Where Will SeaTac Grow" kick-off and Land Use Element deep dive memo, presentation, Land Use Element, Land Use Background Report

2022
Sept 20: Envision SeaTac 2044 project overview memo, presentation

CITY COUNCIL DOCUMENTS
Envision SeaTac 2044 briefing materials are sometimes combined with other "Planning Our City Together" project documents including those related to the Transportation Master Plan Update and City Center/Airport District Subarea Plan projects.

Planning & Economic Development (PED) Committee
2024
Feb 15: Planning Commission recommended growth scenario options memo, presentation
March 21: City Vision Poll Findings Report memo, presentation, City Vision Poll Findings Report
May 16: Proposed City growth strategies and overview of proposed urban center, neighborhood center and industrial center place typologies and related policies memo, presentation
June 26: Proposed housing policies memo, presentation, Housing & Human Services Policy Review Matrix-Draft 1
July 18: Housing Needs, Racially Disparate Impacts and Land Capacity Analysis and Findings memo, report, presentation, August community meetings postcard
Aug 15: Proposed citywide rezoning to implement growth strategy memo and presentation

2023
Aug 17: "Planning Our City Together" project branding rollout (the "Planning Our City Together" projects include the Envision SeaTac 2044, Transportation Master Plan update, and City Center/Airport District subarea plan projects), update on Envision SeaTac 2044 project including early work completed to date (draft Public Participation Plan, Comprehensive Plan policy audit, SeaTac Equity Index activities) memo, presentation
Oct 19: Overview of Envision SeaTac 2044 Public Participation Plan and approach to integrating equity into project memo, presentation, Envision SeaTac 2044 Public Participation Plan
Nov 30: Preliminary Docket and update on "Planning Our City Together" projects memo, presentation, and Preliminary Docket Staff Evaluation Matrix

City Council Study Session
 2024
November 26: Envision SeaTac 2044 review of Agenda Bill 6450 and proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Mater Plan, development codes, and zoning

2022
June 14: Envision SeaTac 2044 Project overview presentation

Regular Council Meeting
2024
December 10: City Council adoption of Envision SeaTac 2044 periodic update of the Comprehensive Plan and related development regulations, Agenda Bill 6450

For More Information

For more information about this project, please send an email to kkaehny@seatacwa.gov.