Industrial and Maritime Strategy

We are partnering with the community and stakeholders to look at how the city can protect and support industry and port operations.

What’s Happening Now?

In June 2021 Mayor Durkan announced that 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.

Industrial and Maritime Strategy Report

The Industrial Maritime Environmental Impact Statement

Implementing some important strategies in the Industrial and Maritime Strategy recommendations mentioned in our Strategy Report require analysis through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Through this process we can learn how different land use scenarios and other strategies will impact the built and natural environment in our industrial areas and adjacent communities. This process allows thoughtful implementation of identified strategies to mitigate any adverse impacts and provides information to the public and policy makers before any decisions are made. The first part of the process was the scoping period where the City sought input from the public about the appropriate scope of the study before beginning work. The EIS scoping report summarizes the comments we received and any changes to the scope of study that were made in response.

To learn about the EIS alternatives and industrial land use concepts being studied, please visit this website.

To learn more about the EIS process and how to comment watch our EIS 101 narrated presentation:

Principles

Use the power of local workers and companies to chart a blueprint for the future using the principles of restorative economics to support the cultural, economic, and political power of communities most impacted by economic and racial inequities
Strengthen and grow Seattle's industrial and maritime sectors so communities that have been excluded from the prosperity of our region can benefit from our future growth
Promote equitable access to high quality, family-wage jobs and entrepreneurship for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color through an inclusive industrial economy and ladders of economic opportunity
Improve the movement of people and goods to and within industrial zones and increases safety for all travel modes
Align Seattle's industrial and maritime strategy with key climate and environmental protection goals
Develop a proactive land use policy agenda that harnesses growth and economic opportunities to ensure innovation and industrial jobs are a robust part of our future economy that is inclusive of emerging industries and supportive of diverse entrepreneurship

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.

Get Involved

For more information, please email Geoff Wentlandt at Geoffrey.Wentlandt@seattle.gov at OPCD, or Sarah Scherer at Sarah.Scherer@Seattle.gov at the Office of Economic Development.

Reports

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 General Zone Code Amendments
On September 10, 2021 we published draft legislation to strengthen protections for industrial uses on industrial land in the Industrial General (IG) zones and issued a SEPA Determination of Non-Significance (DNS). The legislation would further limit the maximum size of use of large retail stores and offices and would prohibit new mini-storage warehouse facilities in IG zones. We received two SEPA appeals on the proposed legislation from property owner groups. Since the process to litigate a SEPA appeal would likely take six to nine months, we elected to withdraw the proposed stand-alone legislation and instead incorporate some of its features into a more comprehensive update of all the industrial zones that is currently being studied in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). We issued notice of the SEPA DNS withdrawal on October 28, 2021.

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: Comprehensive Plan annual amendments
Summer 2021: Begin Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study possible zoning changes
Summer/Fall 2021: Potential legislation to close zoning loopholes
Fall 2021: Consider enhanced workforce development in 2022 budgeting process