An Alternative Future for the North East Mission Industrial Zone

An Alternative Future for the NEMIZ
Mission Coalition for Economic Justice & Jobs
TOPIC AND
QUESTION
Zoning & Policy
What role, if any, does
zoning play in the IPZ?
When was the
industrial protection
policy/program
established or adopted?
What was the impetus
for the policy change?
What would the city do
differently after the
fact?
How are policy areas
chosen?
Flexibility
Is there flexibility in the
program? If so, how?
Is it possible to change
ineffective policies?
How are industrial uses
classified? (Do they
have a label, such as
"PDR"?)
The city recognizes there is an economic development
component to the industrial protection policy.
Preserving industrial land for only industrial
uses helps keep the city’s economic base diverse.
Seattle’s industrial areas are very healthy. The real
estate industry reports less than a 5% vacancy rate
in these areas, even though rents in Seattle’s industrial
buildings are higher than in surrounding
cities. Still, the city recognizes that commercial
development in these areas could outbid industrial
users and therefore limits those commercial uses.
III.22 IPZ Literature Review & Case Studies
PORTLAND, OR SEATTLE, WA BOSTON, MA
Zoning maintains and protects
this area as a dedicated place for
heavy and general industrial uses,
within the city.
Various times. The Guild’s Lake
Industrial Sanctuary was
implemented December 14,
2001.
Because of its proximity to mixeduse
and residential neighborhoods
and the Central City, the Guild's
Lake Industrial Sanctuary is
particularly vulnerable to pressure
for redevelopment to non-
industrial uses.
Zoning is the principal tool for
controlling allowed uses and their
sizes. Sodo IPZ allows for up to
50,000 sqft of office and 30,000 sqft
of retail in IPZ.
Various times, most recently in 1999
when a neighborhood plan for one of
the City’s 2 manufacturing/industrial
centers was adopted with further
restrictions on the types and sizes of
non-industrial uses.
The city wanted to restrict
development in industrial areas,
specifically: (size-of-use limit on
commercial space)
Information not available. Be clearer about how the edges of
industrial areas are defined and how
they should transition to surrounding
The areas are historic locations of
industrial activity.
“Portland’s comprehensive plan
undergoes major reviews every five
years to assure that it remains an
up-to-date and workable
framework for development”
uses.
The city’s major industrial areas are
historic locations of industrial
activity.
Size of use limits vary from one I
zone to another and, to some extent,
by sub-areas of the city.
Zoning serves as a tool to prohibit
development proposals that
convert industrial land and
buildings to office, commercial,
residential, or institutional uses.
N/A
The city wanted to support and
create conditions in which
industries could grow and prosper
as well as attract new
manufacturing and commercial
businesses to the city
Information not available.
Information not available.
Information not available.
Yes, policies can be changed
through reviews that include
technical evaluations, a report on
the plan’s progress, and citizen
involvement.
Yes Information not available.
Industrial Sanctuary Information not available. Boston Backstreets program
Additionally, size-of-use limits vary from one
Industrial Zone to another and, to some extent, by
sub-areas of the city. Some commercial and residential
uses were grand-fathered and are classified
as non-conforming and subject to various restrictions
regarding replacement and expansion. Seattle
is a completely built-up city, so protected industrial
land policy was implemented in historic areas of
industrial activity. These industrial areas generally
do not require new infrastructure. Seattle’s two
major industrial areas are well served by rail and