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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Study Session & Minutes - March 9, 2023

Planning Commission — Thursday, March 9, 2023

BodyKirkland, Washington

SessionPlanning Commission

DateThursday, March 9, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 5:00:02

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:14

Okay.

1:17

Okay.

1:18

Right.

1:19

Great.

1:20

If we could call role, please.

1:23

Gotcha, Alan.

1:24

Brea Heiser.

1:26

Scott Reiser.

1:29

Here.

1:30

Angela Rosman.

1:31

Here.

1:31

Rodney Rutherford.

1:32

Here.

1:33

And Deep Single.

1:34

Here.

1:35

John Tim Chishon.

1:36

Here.

1:36

Thanks.

1:38

All right.

1:40

Tonight we have our planning work program and the public hearing on miscellaneous code amendments.

1:48

So first, if we have any items from the audience, we see that we do have some attendees online.

1:57

I just want to make sure if anyone wants to speak to raise your hand.

2:03

Otherwise, it looks like we are going to get started with the study session about the planning work program.

2:13

All right, moving right along.

2:16

Give me just a moment and I'll pull up a quick presentation on work program.

2:29

Except that I've got to share the screen in a specific way here that I didn't write last time.

2:35

So bear with me.

2:48

So just a quick overview of what we put in the memo for you on the work program tonight.

2:54

And tonight we're looking to get direction so that we can finalize the draft planning work program ahead of a joint study session with City Council for the Commission and Council to discuss the work program.

3:15

In the 23-25 work program.

3:18

We did complete several projects.

3:20

We talked about those at your retreat on February 9th.

3:23

And so those completed projects that you see here on the screen have been removed from the 2023-2025 planning work program.

4:05

Some of those we have started work on already, and they've just been extended to show the staff resourcing.

4:11

Others of those haven't been started yet, and so they've been shifted to try to reflect a more accurate or reasonable start time for those projects.

5:00

So those have been pushed forward into the future in the 2325 work program.

5:06

Just a few projects that we discussed at your retreat that we've removed from the work program as well.

5:14

So for now, those are the homes point overlay updates, the Norkirk's Highlands LIT district study, and then CKC design guidelines and regulations.

5:23

So we could add those into a future work program if the planning commission is inclined.

5:29

But we've removed them for now because we're unlikely to have time to work on them until after that, given what we do have on the draft 2325 work program.

5:41

And then we have several new projects.

5:48

Others brought forward by the planning commission.

5:51

So that's optimizing our missing middle housing and ADU allowances, code updates based on if there are any federal or state legislative amendments that we need to then carry forward into our local regulations.

6:18

Our code enforcement policies and procedures are being updated, and that work is already in progress this year.

6:25

We have some changes to make to CEPA categorical thresholds.

6:28

That would be a pretty quick one.

6:30

And then the two projects that were added on by the commission at your retreat were the home occupancy allowances, taking a look at those, and then looking at a code amendment package to address vehicle electrification infrastructure.

6:45

And that's all I have for you.

6:47

We did print out uh the draft work program, so you have that at your seat.

6:52

Um so I would just suggest that we open up the discussion, madam chair, and uh you let us know what changes or adjustments you might have.

7:01

Uh and staff will take that, finalize the draft, and then we'll work on getting that joint session with uh city council scheduled.

7:09

Do we do we have a sense of when that's going to be or is it gonna happen?

7:13

I think I penciled it in to the April 18th study session.

7:19

Okay.

7:19

Um we haven't confirmed that yet.

7:22

Okay.

7:26

Anyone like to start Commissioner Tim Chisholm?

7:35

Um just two things.

7:37

One, I thought we were gonna do a topic that was called COVID cleanup.

7:42

And we can list them separately, but I think it was sign code and a couple things that we were gonna put together on the work program that was that were all affected by COVID, and we were gonna try to look at sign code and outdoor restaurants and some stuff all under the same subject.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing████████████████████████████████████████40%

Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%

Planning And Zoning███████7%

Code Enforcement██████6%

Housing████4%

Zoning Regulations██2%

Technology and Innovation█1%

Public Engagement█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Study Session & Minutes - March 9, 2023

The Kirkland Planning Commission met on March 9, 2023, from 7:01 PM to 8:19 PM for a study session on the 2023-2025 Planning Work Program (PWP) and the 2023 Miscellaneous Code Amendments. Commissioners also approved minutes from previous meetings and received updates on City Council actions and the upcoming meeting calendar. No public comments were received.

Study Session: 2023-2025 Planning Work Program (PWP)

Deputy Planning & Building Director Allison Zike presented the draft PWP, highlighting completed projects (removed from the new program), extended/delayed projects, and new projects added by the commission at their February retreat. New projects include optimizing missing middle housing and ADU allowances, home occupancy allowances, and vehicle electrification infrastructure. Commissioners discussed priorities:

Commissioner Tymczyszyn raised the idea of a "COVID cleanup" package but staff noted the projects are distinct and may generate significant community interest.
Commissioner Singhal asked about the expected workload from state legislative updates; staff indicated it could be heavy but Kirkland is better positioned than many cities.
Commissioner Heiser emphasized the importance of addressing tree code conflicts with missing middle housing and ADU development, noting that it impacts housing supply.
Vice Chair Reusser questioned the timing of affordable housing incentives, but staff explained that those policy discussions will be rolled into the Comprehensive Plan update (2024-2025).
Commissioner Singhal suggested that if work needs to be shifted, geohazard and curb management policies could be moved later, but Commissioner Heiser stressed that geohazard regulations affect housing (e.g., ADUs) and should remain a priority.
Commissioner Tymczyszyn requested coordination with the school district on school capacity study.
Chair Rozmyn proposed moving missing middle and ADU optimization to the top of 2024 or even into 2023, given its potential impact. Commissioners agreed that this should be the next new project started as soon as staff resources allow.

Study Session: 2023 Miscellaneous Code Amendments

Ms. Zike reviewed nine proposed code amendments, most of which are clarifications or cleanups reflecting current practice. Commissioners discussed two items in detail:

Amendment 5 (Land use buffer modification): Current code requires adjoining property owner approval for buffer modifications. The city attorney advised this is not legally permissible (abdicating zoning authority to a private citizen). Commissioners expressed concern about removing all notice to neighbors. Commissioner Singhal suggested requiring the applicant to provide proof of notice to adjacent owners with instructions on how to comment. Vice Chair Reusser supported the idea of allowing neighbor input. Staff will draft revised language for the public hearing including a notice requirement.
Amendment 6 (FAR calculation - carports/breezeways): This amendment clarifies when structures are considered attached for FAR calculations. Commissioner Heiser noted that carports have been used to make ADUs appear attached, allowing larger ADUs than intended. Commissioners requested more information and examples of how this has been applied before deciding. Staff will provide additional details at the March 23 public hearing.

Other amendments were generally accepted as presented.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of November 10, 2022 and December 8, 2022 were approved by a vote of 6-0. Commissioner Sandeep Singhal abstained.

Administrative Reports

City Council Actions: Planning & Building Director Adam Weinstein reported that the City Council discussed Google Fiber installation citywide and the second phase of the Northeast 85th Station Area Plan. Chair Rozmyn relayed Council's compliments to the Planning Commission for their thoughtful discussion on the Station Area Plan, particularly regarding affordable housing and a grocery store.
LaQuinta Site: The city and King County continue to negotiate an agreement for permanent supportive housing at the former LaQuinta site.
Meeting Calendar: The April 13, 2023 meeting will be canceled. A dedicated study session on affordable housing in the Station Area Plan is tentatively scheduled for April 27, 2023. Commissioners discussed inviting expert speakers, including affordable housing finance and development experts, to provide diverse perspectives. Staff will provide an update at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

Missing middle housing and ADU code optimization will be prioritized as the next new project, with staff aiming to begin work as soon as possible.
For the 2023 Miscellaneous Code Amendments, revised language on land use buffer modification notice requirements will be prepared for the March 23 public hearing. Additional information on the FAR/carport amendment will also be provided.
The April 27 study session will focus on affordable housing in the Station Area Plan, with input from a range of experts to be identified by staff and commissioners.
The April 13 meeting is canceled.
Minutes from November 10 and December 8, 2022 were approved 6-0 (one abstention).

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Okay. Right. Great. If we could call role, please. Gotcha, Alan. Brea Heiser. Scott Reiser. Here. Angela Rosman. Here. Rodney Rutherford. Here. And Deep Single. Here. John Tim Chishon. Here. Thanks. All right. Tonight we have our planning work program and the public hearing on miscellaneous code amendments. So first, if we have any items from the audience, we see that we do have some attendees online. I just want to make sure if anyone wants to speak to raise your hand. Otherwise, it looks like we are going to get started with the study session about the planning work program. All right, moving right along. Give me just a moment and I'll pull up a quick presentation on work program. Except that I've got to share the screen in a specific way here that I didn't write last time. So bear with me. So just a quick overview of what we put in the memo for you on the work program tonight. And tonight we're looking to get direction so that we can finalize the draft planning work program ahead of a joint study session with City Council for the Commission and Council to discuss the work program. In the 23-25 work program. We did complete several projects. We talked about those at your retreat on February 9th. And so those completed projects that you see here on the screen have been removed from the 2023-2025 planning work program. Some of those we have started work on already, and they've just been extended to show the staff resourcing. Others of those haven't been started yet, and so they've been shifted to try to reflect a more accurate or reasonable start time for those projects. So those have been pushed forward into the future in the 2325 work program. Just a few projects that we discussed at your retreat that we've removed from the work program as well. So for now, those are the homes point overlay updates, the Norkirk's Highlands LIT district study, and then CKC design guidelines and regulations. So we could add those into a future work program if the planning commission is inclined. But we've removed them for now because we're unlikely to have time to work on them until after that, given what we do have on the draft 2325 work program. And then we have several new projects. Others brought forward by the planning commission. So that's optimizing our missing middle housing and ADU allowances, code updates based on if there are any federal or state legislative amendments that we need to then carry forward into our local regulations. Our code enforcement policies and procedures are being updated, and that work is already in progress this year. We have some changes to make to CEPA categorical thresholds. That would be a pretty quick one. And then the two projects that were added on by the commission at your retreat were the home occupancy allowances, taking a look at those, and then looking at a code amendment package to address vehicle electrification infrastructure. And that's all I have for you. We did print out uh the draft work program, so you have that at your seat. Um so I would just suggest that we open up the discussion, madam chair, and uh you let us know what changes or adjustments you might have.

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