Industrial and Maritime Strategy

What’s Happening Now?

Final Environmental Impact Statement

In May 2021, the City of Seattle's Industrial and Maritime Strategy Council developed 11 strategies to support the next generation of industrial and maritime jobs. The group's recommendations aim to grow thousands of living-wage jobs, while providing equitable access to those opportunities for the BIPOC community and women. The strategies emphasize the need to provide stronger land-use protections for core industrial and maritime areas, while encouraging modern, innovative high-density industrial development in walkable areas near light rail stations. The proposals also seek to create affordable opportunities for small-scale light-industrial businesses, makers, and creative arts.

Implementing some important land use recommendations from our Industrial and Maritime Strategy Report requires analysis in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before they can be considered by the City Council. On September 29, we issued a Final EIS, which includes a preferred alternative that will be the basis of future proposals to the City Council. The Final EIS builds on the analysis in the Draft EIS released in December 2021 by developing a preferred alternative that incorporates much of the feedback we received from public comment and engagement with key stakeholders.

The Final EIS reviews options for how the City would amend its Comprehensive Plan to update policies about industrial land, and how industrial zoning could be updated. View the documents below and visit our Project Documents section to view the additional chapters.

• Final EIS Executive Summary
• Final EIS
• Final EIS Comment Letters
• Final EIS Executive Summary
• Translated documents:
  • 工业和海洋战略
  • Estrategia industrial y marítima
  • Chiến Lược Công Nghiệp và Hàng Hải

Next Steps

Over the next few months, we will prepare a legislative proposal to amend the land use policies in the Comprehensive Plan to implement the vision of the preferred alternative. Over the course of 2023 to 2024, we will also prepare development regulations, update the Centers Plans for the Manufacturing and Industrial Centers, and begin implementing new zoning regulations.

Seattle's Industrial and Maritime Strategy

The maritime and manufacturing activities supported by the City's industrial lands have long benefitted Seattle by contributing to the City's identity, supporting family-wage jobs, and promoting economic diversity. Most industrial land in Seattle is located within two Manufacturing Industrial Centers (MIC). Seattle's Greater Duwamish Manufacturing and Industrial Center (MIC) and the Ballard Interbay North Manufacturing Industrial Center (BINMIC) contain about 12 percent of Seattle's total land area. MICs are regional designations and are defined in the City's Comprehensive Plan as home to the city's thriving industrial businesses. There are only 11 MICs in the Puget Sound region and they are important resources for retaining and attracting jobs and for a diversified economy. There are a few small areas of industrial zoning outside of MICs.

Seattle industrial areas employment is about 100,000, representing roughly 15% of total employment in the City. Historically, Seattle's industrial lands have captured about 6-11% of the city's employment growth. Although narratives suggest declines in industrial jobs, Seattle's industrial area employment grew at a compound annual rate of about 1.6% between 2010 and 2018. Some sectors like food-and-beverage production grew even faster, while maritime and logistics had slow and steady growth, and only aerospace and manufacturing sectors saw minor declines. (Seattle Maritime and Industrial Employment Trends. Community Attributes Inc., 2020).

Industrial and maritime jobs provide pathways to stable careers that are accessible to a broad swath of community members. Nearly two thirds of all jobs in industrial sectors are accessible without a traditional four-year college degree, and more than half of all jobs in the maritime sector are available with no formal education. Wages are competitive, with average annual earnings exceeding 70% of the Area Median Income for salaries in the construction, aerospace/aviation, and logistics sectors. A high number of jobs in logistics, maritime and manufacturing sectors remain unionized and provide high quality benefits. (Industrial Lands Employment Analysis Technical Memo. Community Attributes Inc., 2020). Both the accessibility and access to competitive wages and benefits provides an opportunity for BIPOC community, women, and youth.

Upcoming Community Events

The City of Seattle is studying options to update zoning for industrial areas of the city. The potential changes could shape the type of new buildings and activities that could take place in industrial areas over the next 20 years.

In September of 2022, we released a Final EIS following a 16 month process that include extensive community outreach. As develop legislation to implement the Industrial Maritime Strategy Recommendations, check back here to learn of community engagement activities.

For More Information
The City of Seattle encourages everyone to participate. For language services, disability accommodations or accessibility information, contact Jim Holmes at jim.holmes@seattle.gov.

Lanier's Fine Candies

The City of Seattle's Industrial & Maritime Strategy seeks to support and grow new economic opportunities in industrial areas. Lanier's Fine Candies is a black-owned and operated candy manufacturer located in Rainier Beach. This is the fourth in a series of videos that highlight some of the diverse business owners, entrepreneurs and living-wage employees in Seattle's industrial areas and showcases some of the unique opportunities supported by this strategy.

Custom Crating

The City of Seattle's Industrial & Maritime Strategy seeks to support and grow new economic opportunities in industrial areas. Custom Crating is a family owned and operated crate and case manufacturer located in South Park. This is the third in a series of videos that highlight some of the diverse business owners, entrepreneurs and living-wage employees in Seattle's industrial areas and showcases some of the unique opportunities supported by this strategy.

Peddler Brewing Company

The City of Seattle's Industrial & Maritime Strategy seeks to support and grow new economic opportunities in industrial areas. Peddler Brewing Company is a family-owned micro-brewery in the Ballard, which boasts a taproom and large outdoor beer garden. This is their story of their work in the Ballard area and beyond. This is the second in a series of videos that highlight some of the diverse business owners, entrepreneurs and living-wage employees in Seattle's industrial areas and showcases some of the unique opportunities supported by this strategy.

Food Lifeline

The City of Seattle's Industrial & Maritime Strategy seeks to support and grow new economic opportunities in industrial areas. Food Lifeline provides nutritious food to hundreds of thousands of people facing hunger every year by sourcing nutritious food from a variety of food industry partners; and advocates to shape policies by partnering with organizations that are addressing other causes of poverty, and through community engagement and mobilization efforts. We are proud to highlight some of the diverse business owners, entrepreneurs and living-wage employees in Seattle's industrial areas and showcases some of the unique opportunities supported by this strategy.

Final EIS

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6 (Appendices)
• Final EIS Comment Letters
• Final EIS Executive Summary

Draft EIS

• Full Draft EIS

Sections of the Draft EIS:

• Summary
• Chapter 2: Proposal & Alternatives
• Chapter 3: Environment, Impacts, & Mitigation Measures
  • 3.1: Soils/Geology
  • 3.2: Air Quality & GHG
  • 3.3: Water Resources
  • 3.4: Plants & Animals
  • 3.5: Contamination
  • 3.6: Noise
  • 3.7: Light & Glare
  • 3.8: Land & Shoreline Use
  • 3.9: Housing
  • 3.10: Transportation
  • 3.11: Historic, Archaeological, & Cultural Resources
  • 3.12: Open Space & Recreation
  • 3.13: Public Services
  • 3.14: Utilities
• Chapter 4: Acronyms & References
• Chapter 5: Appendices
  • Appendix A: Scoping Notice & Comment Summary
  • Appendix B: Industrial & Maritime Strategy Council Report
  • Appendix C: Alternative Future Zoning Maps
  • Appendix D: Draft Comprehensive Plan Goal & Policy Language
  • Appendix E: Industrial Development Regulations
• Draft EIS Notice of Availability
• Updated Employment Trends and Land Use Alternatives Analysis

Reports

• Industrial and Maritime Strategy Report
• Appendix A: Informational Memos
• Appendix B: Potential Strategies and Actions
• Determination of Significance

Neighborhood Advisory Groups

• Ballard
  Advisory Meeting #2 Summary (January 2020)
  Kick-Off Meeting (December 2019)
  Kick-Off Meeting Summary
• Georgetown and South Park
  Advisory Meeting #2 Summary (January 2020)
  Kick-Off Meeting (December 2019)
  Kick-Off Meeting Summary
• Interbay
  Advisory Meeting #2 Summary (January 2020)
  Kick-Off Meeting (December 2019)
  Kick-Off Meeting Summary
  The Interbay Public Development Advisory Committee's Recommendations and Implementation Plan
  
• SODO (South Downtown)
  Advisory Meeting #2 Summary (January 2020)
  Kick-Off Meeting (December 2019)
  Kick-Off Meeting Summary

Stakeholder Meetings

• Ground Rules and Responsibilities for Participation
  
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #9 Summary (May 27, 2021)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #9 Presentation (May 27, 2021)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #8 Summary (May 6, 2021)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #8 Presentation (May 6, 2021)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #7 Summary (April 15, 2021)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #7 Presentation (April 15, 2021)
• Informational memos (April 2021)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #6 Summary (March 25, 2021)
• Background memo (March 2021)
• All Advisory Groups Public Safety Meeting (January, 2021)
  
  
• Listening Session Presentations
  In the listening session, subgroups presented their own ideas on specific topics to other members of the advisory group.
  
  
• BIPOC Youth Engagement Presentation (November 2020)
• Restorative Economics Presentation (October 2020)
• Land Use Concepts Presentation (October 2020)
• All Advisory Groups Revised Process and Schedule Presentation (September 2020)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #4 Summary
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #4 Presentation (June 2020)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #3 (February 2020)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #3 Summary
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #2 Presentation (December 2019)
• Citywide Advisory Group Meeting #2 Summary
• Community Attributes Inc (CAI) Maritime and Industrial Strategy presentation (December 2019)
• Citywide Advisory Group Kick-Off Agenda and Process Timeline (December 2019)
• Citywide Advisory Group Kick-Off meeting presentation (November 2019)
• Citywide Advisory Group Kick-Off meeting summary (November 2019)

Background Resources

Industrial Maritime Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

On July 7, the City began a 30-day scoping period to solicit public input on the range of alternatives and topics to be studied in the Industrial Maritime Draft EIS.  On conclusion of this scoping period, a scoping report summarizing public comment was prepared and alternatives revised, as appropriate, for analysis in the Draft EIS. The Scoping Report can be found here. 

On December 16 the City released the Industrial Maritime Strategy Draft EIS and began a 45-day public comment period. The Draft EIS can be found on the project documents page.

Restorative Economics Background

• Introduction to Restorative Economics by Nwamaka Agbo (30 minutes, 2020)

Industrial Lands Studies

• Industrial Lands Employment Analysis memo (2020)
• Industrial Development Types memo (2020)
• Interbay Armory Site - Health Impact Assessment (University of Washington CBE studio, Spring 2020)
  
  
• Land Use and Employment Study (November 2017)
• Land Use Inventory - Duwamish Manufacturing/Industrial Center (November 2017)
• Employee Analysis (November 2017)
• Infrastructure (November 2017)
• Appendices (November 2017)
• Industrial Lands Advisory Panel - Draft Recommendations (September 2017)
  
  
• Industrial Lands Policy Discussion Summary and Recommendations (December 2015)
• Duwamish Industrial Land Study Recommendations (November 2013)
• The Future of Seattle’s Industrial Lands (July 2007)
• Port of Seattle Century Agenda(2008)

Seattle’s Industrial Lands:

• Criteria for Regional Manufacturing / Industrial Center Designation
• GMA and Regional Policy Summary memo (2020)
• Background Report (May 2007)
• Mayor’s Recommendations (August 2007)
• Regulatory Tools (May 2009)

Stakeholder Advisory Group

A group of diverse stakeholders advised us throughout the study. We have also met with industry and community groups to discuss any recommendations.

Project Timeline

• June 2021: Strategy Council Report
• Summer 2021: Begin Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study possible zoning changes
  
• Fall 2021: Consider enhanced workforce development in 2022 budgeting process
• December 16, 2021 - April 15, 2022 Draft EIS Comment Period
• September 2022: Final EIS
• Winter 2023: Industrial Land Comprehensive Plan Policy Amendments
• Winter 2023: Legislation implementing Industrial and Maritime Strategy land use recommendations