The Technical Architects: OPCD and the One Seattle Plan

Posted on February 16, 2026

As we head into the next phase of this process, it’s worth taking a moment to look at the people working behind the scenes at City Hall.

Brennon Staley is a Strategic Advisor at the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD), he is one of the primary authors and technical leads for the Centers and Corridors legislation.

His job is uniquely challenging: he has to take the broad, high-level vision of “One Seattle” and translate it into the granular, block-by-block laws that govern our city. It’s a massive balancing act; trying to meet state housing mandates (like HB 1110) while also managing the very real, often conflicting feedback from hundreds of different neighborhoods.

The Role of a Professional Planner

It’s important to acknowledge that Brennon is a professional doing a tough job. He isn’t the one who sets the political agenda, but he is the one tasked with making the math work. In public briefings, he often speaks about the “two valid viewpoints” in Seattle; the need for more housing abundance and the desire to protect the stability of existing neighborhoods.

His role involves:

  • Drafting the Standards: He writes the technical rules for building heights, lot coverage, and “massing” that will define the new LR2 zones.
  • Managing the Maps: He leads the team that draws the 800-foot circles around Neighborhood Centers like Morgan Junction.
  • Responding to Data: He is often the person who has to explain the “logic” of the maps to the City Council and the Planning Commission.

Why “Doing the Job” Doesn’t Mean the Map is Perfect

While we respect the professional effort it takes to manage a citywide plan, “doing the job” doesn’t mean the first draft is the final word. Even the most skilled planners rely on digital models that can miss the “on-the-ground” reality of a specific street.

When we advocate for a boundary adjustment on 39th Ave SW, we aren’t criticizing the planners personally. We are providing the “ground-truth” data that their office models might overlook:

  • Topography: A map doesn’t always feel the steepness of the slope from Morgan to Raymond.
  • Infrastructure: A GIS layer doesn’t always show how narrow our residential mid-blocks truly are.
  • Stability: Data points don’t capture the value of a residential buffer that protects naturally affordable housing.

Moving Forward Together

The best planning happens when professional expertise meets local knowledge. By inviting the technical team to walk our street, we aren’t just complaining; we are offering them a clearer “perspective” that can’t be found on a 2D map.

Brennon Staley has shown in other parts of the city that he is willing to refine the lines when the technical evidence for a mismatch is clear. Our goal is to work with his team to ensure the One Seattle Plan is as accurate as it is ambitious.

These are the professionals at the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD). They don’t vote, but they write the reports and draw the initial lines.

OPCD Leadership

Rico Quirindongo (Director of OPCD)

Michael Hubner (Long Range Planning Manager)

City of Seattle Zoning Update Video

This video features Brennon Staley explaining the technical “how and why” behind the zoning updates, illustrating the complex balancing act he manages as a lead planner.