Kirkland Planning Commission Study Session on 2044 Comprehensive Plan - March 28, 2024

The Kirkland Planning Commission held a study session on March 28, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:42 PM to review three policy briefings for the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update: Human Services Element, Housing Element (second briefing), and Land Use Element (second briefing). Commissioners provided feedback on draft goals and policies, discussed capacity analysis results, and considered potential land use changes. No public comments were received, and no formal votes were taken.

Discussion Items

Human Services Element Policy Briefing

Senior Planner Lindsay Levine presented the Human Services element, covering background, community engagement themes, and proposed draft policies. Key discussion points:

• Commissioner Angela Rozmyn suggested stronger language to encourage active collaboration with nonprofit and community organizations beyond just supporting them when they seek help. Staff noted existing policy HS 1.11 on partnerships.
• Commissioner Aaron Jacobson supported making all homes accessible but noted the high cost of elevators in the U.S., suggesting that building code changes to reduce costs would be more effective than mandates.
• Commissioner Sandeep Singhal proposed broadening an age-focused policy to include other life stages and mobility issues, but Commissioner Rozmyn argued for retaining a specific policy for seniors.
• Commissioner Jacobson advocated for adding a goal and policies to increase child care availability and affordability, including state-level advocacy and partnerships for non-standard hours. Staff noted this may fall outside the human services scope but would explore it further.
• Commissioner Singhal questioned whether an unmodified policy (HS 5.10) on administering a community donation program should be more directional; staff agreed to clarify with the human services manager.

Housing Element Policy Briefing #2

Senior Planner Scott Guter presented housing element policies focused on stability and subsidy. Key discussion points:

• Goal H1: Commissioners stressed the importance of measuring results and accountability, with Commissioner Rozmyn repeatedly emphasizing that outcomes matter more than policies.
• Policy on addressing vacancy: Commissioner Jacobson expressed skepticism about a vacancy tax due to low potential yield (estimated ~60 homes) and administrative burden. Commissioner Scott Reusser warned of unintended consequences during economic downturns. Commissioner Allen Katya noted challenges with short-term rentals and suggested collecting hotel taxes.
• Policy on residential intensity minimums: Commissioner Jacobson and Commissioner Rozmyn favored incentives over mandates and a no-net-loss requirement to avoid losing existing housing. Commissioner Rodney Rutherford supported incentives for ADUs and duplexes.
• Policy on supporting innovative housing (e.g., HUD-code manufactured homes): Commissioner Jacobson cautioned against over-regulating and suggested simply legalizing them. Commissioner Rutherford proposed an inventory of land for portable tiny homes, including on public and institutional lands.
• Policy on preserving existing housing: Commissioners supported retaining naturally occurring affordable housing and incentivizing keeping existing homes while allowing additional development on the lot.
• Policy on tenant protections: Commissioners asked about data on unintended consequences (e.g., landlords avoiding low-income renters). Staff will check with Bellevue and Seattle. Commissioner Allen noted the need to balance rent increases with rising property taxes and insurance.
• Policy on energy efficiency: Commissioners preferred incentives over requirements, and Commissioner Rutherford suggested utility partnerships to reduce upfront costs.
• Policy on in-lieu fees: Commissioner Allen worried that in-lieu fees concentrate affordable housing elsewhere, but staff explained current sparing use and potential benefits for single-family inclusionary zoning. Commissioner Rozmyn supported keeping multiple options.
• Policy on collaborating with faith and community organizations: Commissioner Rozmyn liked proactive identification of underutilized properties. Commissioner Rutherford extended the idea to parks and public land for park host programs.
• Commissioner Rutherford raised several additional points: exploring multifamily condominium development by addressing state liability issues; shifting affordable housing cost burdens to commercial uses (e.g., linkage fees); providing subsidies directly to critical workers; and supporting homeownership for underrepresented groups.

Land Use Element Policy Briefing #2

Deputy Director Allison Zike presented updated land use policies, capacity analysis methodology, and results. Key topics:

• Growth targets: 13,200 additional housing units and 26,490 new jobs by 2044. Both the existing zoning and action alternative (including potential land use changes) show capacity exceeding targets.
• Capacity analysis methodology: Uses King County parcel data; excludes recently developed, condo, and institutional parcels; applies reasonability factors (e.g., steep slopes, right-of-way). For employment, assumes 4 employees per 1,000 sq ft office, 2 per commercial, 1.7 per industrial, plus 0.09 home-based employees per dwelling unit. Commissioner Jacobson and Commissioner Allen questioned the low home-based employee estimate; staff acknowledged it is conservative but acceptable for showing capacity.
• Potential land use changes: ParMac Business Center, Goodwill site, Michaels site, and upzones along frequent transit corridors (up to 50 units/acre within quarter-mile buffer). Commissioner Jacobson argued that 50 units/acre is too low to support high-quality transit and meet affordable housing needs, especially for 50% AMI households. He shared bus ridership data showing that only a few stops drive most ridership. Commissioner Rutherford sought flexibility to go above 50 units/acre in some corridors; staff confirmed the EIS is designed to allow flexibility and future additional study.
• Draft policies: Staff revisited several policies based on previous commission feedback.
  • Goal LU-1 and policy 1.3: Updated to address permitting and clarity.
  • Goal LU-3 and policies 3.2, 3.7: Commissioner Rutherford proposed adding parks and open space near high-density housing. Commissioner Singhal stressed the need for quality transit service, not just infrastructure. Commissioner Jacobson noted tension between concentrating housing near transit and spreading it across all neighborhoods; staff acknowledged both goals.
  • Goal LU-4 and new policy 4.3: Lowering minimum lot sizes to encourage fee-simple ownership. Commissioner Jacobson asked about incorporation into EIS; staff said no specific minimum yet but noted legislation proposing 2,500 sq ft.
  • Policy 5.8 (mid-block connections): Commissioner Rutherford suggested moving it to LU-3 for better fit.
  • Policy 9.2: Minor wordsmithing on energy-efficient development.
  • Historic preservation goal and policies moved from repealed Community Character element: Acknowledged native history and equity lens.
• Next steps: Public hearings scheduled April–September; draft supplemental EIS expected end of May/early June; council adoption by end of 2024.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; all items were study session discussions to inform policy refinement.
• Staff will incorporate commissioner feedback into draft policies and return for public hearings.
• Staff will investigate data on tenant protection policies in other jurisdictions and the feasibility of including child care policies.
• The commission will hold its next policy briefing on April 11, 2024, for Public Services, Utilities, and Capital Facilities elements, and neighborhood plan updates.
• Commissioner Sandeep Singhal was recognized for his eight years of service; the commission presented him with a gift.