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Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Study Session on Parks and Sustainability Elements - February 8, 2024

Planning Commission — Thursday, February 8, 2024
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, February 8, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:00:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:24

Okay.

0:25

I would like to call to order the February 8th, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.

0:32

And we will start with roll call.

0:38

Gotcha, Alan.

0:39

Present.

0:40

Brea Heiser.

0:41

Here.

0:41

Karen Jacobson.

0:43

Here.

0:44

Angela Roseman.

0:46

Here.

0:46

Randy Rutherford.

0:47

Here.

0:47

Sandy Single.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Thanks.

0:51

Great.

0:52

It is so nice to have all the commissioners here.

0:57

Two meetings in a row, I believe, which is great.

1:02

So tonight on the agenda, uh, we have a briefing for the comprehensive plan on parks and recreation and open space.

1:12

And second, we have sustainability, client, and environmental element policy briefing.

1:18

Uh before we get started, are there any comments from the audience?

1:23

And if you are online, uh, if you could raise a virtual hand.

1:27

Uh please step forward, state your name and uh three minutes.

1:33

Kevin Adams, um uh Kirkland resident.

1:36

I've uh shared email with a few folks here this last week um regarding uh some long-term planning for the 85th uh station plan.

1:47

And my question was um uh it's regarding a potential for the pedestrian bridge across 90th Street.

1:56

And um I've been told that it's likely uh it's a proposal part of a long-term plan potentially, and my question was more just what's the process or the timing for some of those decisions to get made and how does that actually come to fruition for some of those longer term proposals and is that a one to three year, five to ten, ten to twenty, sort of just uh timing for some of those things.

2:24

So that was my question to kind of understand that timing and process.

2:28

You know, I'm gonna hand this over to Allison because you still have a few minutes there and she can probably update you best.

2:35

I think she's responded to me already.

2:37

Uh but it'd be great to do actually maybe if there's more detail.

2:41

Yeah, so right now that project, the pedestrian overpass at 90th Street is on the long-term CIP, so it's a on a 20-year project list.

2:49

Um what it would take to kind of prioritize that is if for whatever reason the city prioritized it or um probably less so for a project like that, but if it was something like a an intersection improvement in the 20-year CIP plan if there was development nearby that then made it necessary sooner rather than later, the six-year CIP list, which is the list of funded projects, gets updated every year.

3:13

So every year we take a look at that full 20-year list, sort of rearrange it to make sure that we're funding the right things in the short term.

3:20

So right now that overpass is still on the long-term list.

3:24

Um as you can imagine, it's a pretty pricey one.

3:26

Yeah, I can.

3:27

Um so it's yeah, it's not funded right now.

3:29

Okay, okay, that's great.

3:30

And and I potentially am not for it, uh, but thank you for all the information.

3:35

And uh that's why I was just wondering.

3:37

So it's a i is that a yearly process then for the six-year plan to be re I guess updated.

3:45

Is that what happens?

3:46

That happens every year.

3:47

Um, and actually the planning commission usually holds a public hearing on the updating of that six-year list, um, usually in about November of every year.

3:57

So that'll happen again towards the year.

3:58

And the six-year list is the projects that are shown on the website.

4:03

I'd need to look at exactly what website, but it technically lives in our comprehensive plan in the capital facilities element.

4:09

Okay, right.

4:10

Thank you.

4:11

Appreciate it.

4:12

Great, thank you.

4:14

I do want to add that is uh a part of the station area, so it is very pertinent to the planning commission.

4:20

And I think uh if you talk further with Alison online, um she was saying to us as commissioners that uh currently they're getting community input on projects.

4:34

So that is one of the projects that's getting community input.

4:37

So just follow up.

4:38

Yeah, and I saw the website, thank you.

4:46

Okay, are there any other please step forward?

4:53

Hi, uh my name is Kurt Dresner.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Parks and Recreation██████7%
Climate Change█████6%
Energy Efficiency█████6%
Sustainability Initiatives████5%
Comprehensive Planning██3%
Urban Forest Management██3%
Active Transportation██2%
Environmental Protection██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Study Session on Parks and Sustainability Elements - February 8, 2024

The Kirkland Planning Commission met on February 8, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber for a study session focused on two policy briefings for the 2044 Comprehensive Plan: the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Element and the Sustainability, Climate and Environment (SCE) Element. Commissioners reviewed draft goals and policies, asked clarifying questions, and provided extensive feedback to guide staff revisions. The meeting included two public comments and concluded with administrative updates.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kevin Adams, a Kirkland resident, asked about the long-term planning timeline for the 85th Street Station Plan, specifically the proposed pedestrian bridge across 90th Street. Planning & Building Deputy Director Allison Zike responded that the bridge is on the 20-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) list and is not currently funded; the six-year CIP is updated annually, with a public hearing usually held by the Planning Commission each November. Mr. Adams indicated he may not be in favor of the bridge but appreciated the information.
  • Kurt Dressner, from the Everest neighborhood, commented on Sustainability element policies. He cautioned against unintended consequences of establishing fixed embodied carbon limits in Policy E4.6, urging consideration of the full lifecycle of projects. He also supported new Policy E4.1# on a tool-lending facility but recommended wording that allows for multiple facilities ("one or more facilities or a network of facilities") rather than limiting to a single location.

Discussion Items

Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element Policy Briefing

Senior Planner Lindsay Levine presented an overview of the Parks element, including community engagement themes (equity, small parks, tree canopy, shade), study issues, and draft goals and policies. Commissioners provided input on a range of policies:

  • Support for water bottle refill stations and splash pads (heat mitigation).
  • Lifeguard coverage during extreme heat; longer hours in hotter summers.
  • Concern that a scholarship policy (PR 5.3) is too limiting by focusing on income; suggestion to broaden language to encourage participation at all income levels.
  • Policy PR 3.1 on waterfront parks: question about creating pedestrian-friendly connections along the waterfront (distinct from new access points).
  • Interest in permanent parklets in right-of-way to expand park access in areas like Kingsgate.
  • Enthusiasm for new policy allowing businesses (cafes, recreational equipment rentals) in and near parks, with suggestions to include "adjacent to" parks and to consider neighborhood-level businesses.
  • Policy on walking, biking, and transit access: commissioners urged prioritizing non-car modes (walk, bike, roll, transit) and listed facilities needed: bike racks with charging, shade structures, benches, bus stops near parks, bathrooms, water fountains, lockers, inclusive play structures for all ages.
  • Tree canopy policy: support for traffic calming through trees, and a comment to change "for future generations" to include "current and future generations."
  • Additional suggestions: prioritize underserved people over underserved areas (PR 2.1), nurture a fine-grained network of paths for people-scale transport (PR 4.1), clarify "green infrastructure" in PR 7.4, and consider redundancy of tree canopy policies between elements.

Sustainability, Climate and Environment Element Policy Briefing

Senior Planner David Barnes presented an overview of the SCE element, highlighting key themes from outreach, study issues, and draft revisions. Commissioners reviewed several highlighted policies and provided feedback:

  • New policy supporting the Urban Forestry Strategic Management Plan: welcomed as promoting internal collaboration.
  • Policy E4.6 on embodied carbon limits: concerns about unintended consequences slowing development or blocking significant projects (e.g., light rail tunnels). Suggestions to include incentives (e.g., expedited permitting, height or density bonuses), a hierarchy that ensures development remains viable, and per capita greenhouse gas targets. Commissioners emphasized the need to avoid making it harder to build in Kirkland, which could push development to exurbs.
  • New Policy E4.1# on a tool-lending facility: strongly supported, with suggestions for a constellation of neighborhood-based facilities and possible partnerships with neighbors who already share tools.
  • Policies on climate resilience (new goal E5 related to HB 1181): support for creating a climate preparedness study, financial assistance for underserved populations in energy transitions, and regional partnerships. Discussion included concerns about grid capacity and PSE staffing; a presentation from PSE is scheduled for March.
  • Policies on renewable aviation fuels and per capita VMT targets: support for adding language on non-aviation alternatives (e.g., high-speed rail) and addressing particulate pollution from aviation and marine fuels.
  • Policy on water conservation: desire for stronger measures, including water reuse (gray/black water) and making city policy more accommodating for individual projects.
  • Additional comments: noise pollution should be addressed (especially from freeways after tree removal), micromobility and e-bikes are underrepresented and should be integrated across elements, and equitable access to healthy food through community gardens and small grocers should be included.

Key Outcomes

  • Staff will incorporate the commission's feedback into revisions of both the Parks and SCE elements.
  • The draft elements will be presented for public hearing before the Planning Commission in April and May 2024, with City Council adoption targeted by the end of 2024.
  • The next Planning Commission meeting (February 22) will feature the first housing element policy briefing.
  • Applications for Planning Commission seats (terms beginning after March) are open until February 14, 2024.
  • Staff noted that public notice signs for building permits on density increases (e.g., cottages on a lot) are not currently required, but this issue has been added to the study list for middle housing optimization implementation.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. I would like to call to order the February 8th, 2024 Planning Commission meeting. And we will start with roll call. Gotcha, Alan. Present. Brea Heiser. Here. Karen Jacobson. Here. Angela Roseman. Here. Randy Rutherford. Here. Sandy Single. Here. Thanks. Great. It is so nice to have all the commissioners here. Two meetings in a row, I believe, which is great. So tonight on the agenda, uh, we have a briefing for the comprehensive plan on parks and recreation and open space. And second, we have sustainability, client, and environmental element policy briefing. Uh before we get started, are there any comments from the audience? And if you are online, uh, if you could raise a virtual hand. Uh please step forward, state your name and uh three minutes. Kevin Adams, um uh Kirkland resident. I've uh shared email with a few folks here this last week um regarding uh some long-term planning for the 85th uh station plan. And my question was um uh it's regarding a potential for the pedestrian bridge across 90th Street. And um I've been told that it's likely uh it's a proposal part of a long-term plan potentially, and my question was more just what's the process or the timing for some of those decisions to get made and how does that actually come to fruition for some of those longer term proposals and is that a one to three year, five to ten, ten to twenty, sort of just uh timing for some of those things. So that was my question to kind of understand that timing and process. You know, I'm gonna hand this over to Allison because you still have a few minutes there and she can probably update you best. I think she's responded to me already. Uh but it'd be great to do actually maybe if there's more detail. Yeah, so right now that project, the pedestrian overpass at 90th Street is on the long-term CIP, so it's a on a 20-year project list. Um what it would take to kind of prioritize that is if for whatever reason the city prioritized it or um probably less so for a project like that, but if it was something like a an intersection improvement in the 20-year CIP plan if there was development nearby that then made it necessary sooner rather than later, the six-year CIP list, which is the list of funded projects, gets updated every year. So every year we take a look at that full 20-year list, sort of rearrange it to make sure that we're funding the right things in the short term. So right now that overpass is still on the long-term list. Um as you can imagine, it's a pretty pricey one. Yeah, I can. Um so it's yeah, it's not funded right now. Okay, okay, that's great. And and I potentially am not for it, uh, but thank you for all the information. And uh that's why I was just wondering. So it's a i is that a yearly process then for the six-year plan to be re I guess updated. Is that what happens? That happens every year. Um, and actually the planning commission usually holds a public hearing on the updating of that six-year list, um, usually in about November of every year. So that'll happen again towards the year. And the six-year list is the projects that are shown on the website. I'd need to look at exactly what website, but it technically lives in our comprehensive plan in the capital facilities element. Okay, right.

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