Interacting with design review just got better in Seattle. With the launch of a new interactive mapping system called Shaping Seattle: Buildings, the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is embarking on a new way for public involvement in the planning process. Mirroring many of the features already present in Ethan’s Seattle In Progress app, Shaping Seattle: Buildings should prove useful for informing the public of the development process, garnering feedback on project proposals, and keeping people abreast of where significant projects stand in the review and construction stages.
Users can tap into the DPD’s extensive project data by pursuing the interactive map and clicking on the blue dots. An individual project screen will appear to reveal a suite of project details, including: a primary project image, project location, permit number, and a short summary of the project proposal. Latest design review proposals appear front and center for easy download. Users can also view the project timeline, any associated documents on the proposal and land use application, fill in a comment box with their feedback on the project, find out if any future meetings are on the horizon, and share the project out across social media with the click of a button.
It’s worth noting that most projects will not have a scheduled meeting indicated. If a project is still under review, absence of a future meeting should not be taken to mean that there won’t be one scheduled down the road.
The DPD wants feedback from users, and plans to provide updated features in the future. So make sure to help them out and get involved in the design review process.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.