Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - January 26, 2023

The Kirkland Planning Commission met on January 26, 2023, at 7:06 PM in the Council Chamber. The primary focus was a study session on the Future of Park Lane Study, with updates on the Station Area Plan following Google's decision not to purchase the Lee Johnson site. Commissioners also heard public comments and discussed upcoming work program items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Kappler (Kirkland resident) urged the Commission to reconsider the Lee Johnson site after the change in development plans, stating that too much emphasis had been placed on one development, the 250-foot heights were inconsistent with the I-405 corridor, and the site's plans with Sound Transit did not serve Kirkland's parking needs. He suggested the area at 85th and I-405 should be reconsidered as a gateway.
• Bill Blanchard (Chair of Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods) clarified that Park Lane was discussed by KAN but was not a KAN initiative.
• David Allen (Moss Bay neighborhood) spoke strongly in favor of opening Park Lane to pedestrians all day, every day, citing widespread community support and examples from other cities. He argued that only a few business owners oppose it.
• Kurt Dresner (Livable Kirkland) announced that the city and consultant had agreed to include Livable Kirkland and other advocacy groups in listening sessions. He encouraged commissioners to attend. Livable Kirkland envisions Park Lane as a vibrant, safe, people-oriented space with third places and lively commerce. He proposed three actions for 2023: determine predictable pedestrianization days/hours, promote activation with a coordinator and calendar, and develop retail enhancement strategies.
• Later in the meeting, David Allen again commented, thanking commissioners and emphasizing that the goal should be making Park Lane better than Totem Lake or downtown Bellevue.

Discussion Items

Future of Park Lane Study

Transportation Planner Victoria Kovacs and Special Projects Coordinator Martha Chaudhry presented the study scope. Three options will be evaluated by consultant MIG: 1) full year-round closure, 2) full summer seasonal closure (May-Oct), 3) summer evening closure (May-Oct, 6-11pm). The study will cover infrastructure, operations, parking, programming, and public safety. Commissioners provided input on each discussion question:

• Ideas for Park Lane: Commissioner Allen shared personal history and expressed support for full closure, citing community benefits. Commissioner Reusser emphasized supporting businesses and ensuring they don't lose livelihood. Chair Rozmyn advocated for prioritizing people over cars and noted that permanent closure allows high-value public space. Commissioner Tymczyszyn noted survey data suggesting support for at least seasonal closure and asked about city staffing burden for intermittent closures. Commissioners generally favored a fully pedestrianized space, with some preferring seasonal or year-round options.
• Key Topics for Consultant: Commissioners raised concerns about delivery access, emergency vehicle access, activation in winter months, costs and maintenance budget, renderings of possible improvements (e.g., fire pits, covered seating), parking management, and ensuring businesses benefit. Commissioner Heiser stressed the need for a formal poll of affected businesses. Commissioner Allen suggested studying actual parking use and considering sales tax revenue. Commissioner Rutherford asked about weather protection and automated bollards. Commissioner Tymczyszyn emphasized making Park Lane competitive with Totem Lake and downtown Bellevue. Commissioners also discussed alcohol consumption rules if fully pedestrianized.
• Information Needed per Scenario: Commissioners requested details on emergency access, cost to the city, revenue projections, and a "dream big" vision for the best possible use. Commissioner Heiser asked for renderings of possible designs. Staff noted that renderings and cost estimates are part of the consultant scope. The Commission will receive the developed scenarios in March.

Station Area Plan and Google Announcement

Deputy Director Allison Zike provided an update: Google decided not to purchase the Lee Johnson site, so the development agreement will not be executed. However, the adopted zoning (allowing up to 250 feet) remains. The city plans to move forward with adoption of the rest of the Station Area Plan (phase two form-based code), with a public hearing tentatively scheduled for February 23. Commissioners discussed the potential need to revisit the zoning for the Lee Johnson parcel, given that Google had proposed a lower height (187 feet) and the current zoning may not be optimal without a specific partner. Vice Chair Reusser and Commissioner Heiser argued for reassessment, noting that the original plan was influenced by Google. Commissioner Allen urged proactive planning. Staff noted that the work program will be discussed at the February 9 retreat, and any changes would require council direction. The existing capacity from the Station Area Plan already meets the next comprehensive plan's housing and job growth needs, so reducing heights might require adding capacity elsewhere.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken. The Commission provided guidance to staff on the Park Lane study: scenarios should include activation plans, emergency access, cost estimates, and renderings of desirable improvements.
• The Commission will reconvene on February 9 for a retreat to discuss the work program, including potential revisiting of Station Area Plan zoning. The next public hearing on phase two Station Area Plan is scheduled for February 23.
• Staff will incorporate Commission comments into the consultant study and return with scenario visualizations in March.