Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting: 2044 Comp Plan Hearing & Officer Elections - May 9, 2024
Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting: 2044 Comp Plan Hearing & Officer Elections - May 9, 2024
The Kirkland Planning Commission held a public hearing on the first three chapters of the 2044 Comprehensive Plan (Introduction, Parks Recreation & Open Space, and Economic Development), received public testimony, deliberated, and voted on recommendations. The Commission also elected new officers for the upcoming term. The meeting began at 6:01 PM and adjourned at 7:34 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Neil Lebeck (Kirkland resident): Expressed support for higher density near transit corridors, specifically 100 units per acre rather than the proposed 50, to increase housing affordability and restore bus service (Route 255).
- Nancy Sackman (Cultural Preservation Officer, Duwamish Tribe; Kirkland resident): Stated the Tribe's interest in public engagement, encouraged inclusion of native plants in parks/development, and requested dark-sky-compliant lighting and attention to water quality/fish passage.
- Scott Aldridge: Suggested a condensed mission/vision statement using terms like "progressive environmental growing city" to avoid politically charged language.
- Liz Hunt (Kirkland): Criticized difficulty accessing meeting packet online, provided detailed navigation complaints; recommended adding public safety and neighborhood goals; questioned data behind statement that past planning privileged some voices; urged balancing diversity language with housing and parks mentions.
- Ken MacKenzie (Kirkland): Argued it was inappropriate to hold a hearing on non-public information (last-minute changes); cited U.S. Census data showing Kirkland population stagnant (92,151 in 2022) vs. Seattle growth; opposed conversion of manufacturing/assembly spaces to housing; called for a diverse tax base and preserving entry-level jobs.
- Sheila Clooney (Norkirk resident): Noted difficulty finding meeting info; reported formation of a 501(c)(3) for Park Lane revitalization with Main Street status; requested more attention to Kingsgate area's dilapidated conditions and drug issues.
Discussion Items
2044 Comprehensive Plan – Introduction Chapter (Vision, Guiding Principles, General Policies)
- Staff presented a revised draft vision statement and guiding principles, refined after the joint City Council/Planning Commission retreat. Commissioners praised the streamlining but felt the vision statement remained too long. Concerns were raised about the negative tone of "combat racism and discrimination" and redundancy in belonging/diversity/inclusion language. Commissioner Allen noted the late-breaking changes were not available to the public or commissioners in advance, advocating for more time. The Commission agreed to continue the public hearing to June 13, 2024, keeping it open for written comments, and formed a subcommittee (Commissioner Rozmyn and Chair Reusser) to work with staff on a revised version.
Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element
- Staff presented updates, including a new proposed policy (PR-1.13) to evaluate and possibly expand requirements for common recreational space in multi-unit developments. Concerns were raised about impacts on housing costs and whether such requirements should only apply where parks are distant. Commissioner Jacobson moved to recommend the element as amended, adding "a significant distance from parks or open space" to the policy. The amendment passed 6-0, and the element was recommended as amended 6-0.
Economic Development Element
- Staff highlighted strategies to distribute economic growth to historically underserved areas, support affordable commercial rent, promote third places, and allow small-scale commercial in residential zones. No objections were raised. Commissioner Jacobson moved to recommend approval as presented by staff. Motion carried 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Public Hearing Continued: The hearing on the Introduction Chapter (Vision, Guiding Principles, General Policies) was continued to the June 13, 2024 Planning Commission meeting, with written comments accepted until that date. A subcommittee (Rozmyn and Reusser) will work with staff on a revised version.
- Parks Element Recommended: The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element was recommended for approval 6-0, with an amendment to Policy PR-1.13 adding "a significant distance from parks or open space."
- Economic Development Element Recommended: The Economic Development Element was recommended for approval 6-0 as presented by staff.
- Officer Elections: Rodney Rutherford was elected Chair (6-0) and Bria Heiser was elected Vice Chair (6-0) for the next term. Outgoing Chair Scott Reusser expressed gratitude.
- Administrative Update: Staff reported that the City Council unanimously approved (7-0) the Miscellaneous Code Amendments as recommended by the Planning Commission at their May 7 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, I am going to call to order the May 9th, 2024 Planning Commission meeting. And we'll start with roll call. Gotcha, Alan. Yes. Ria Heisher. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Modia. Scott Reiser. Here. Angela Rosman. Here. Rodney Rutherford. Here. Okay. On tonight's agenda, we are going to have our first public hearing for the 2044 Kirkland Comprehensive Plan. And it's been a long time coming, and we're very excited to get this started. This will only be the first few chapters of the comprehensive plan. So we will be following this up with a series of public hearings on other chapters of the plan. Tonight we'll be having discussion and a public hearing on the introduction, mission statement, guiding principles, and general policies. Second, we will be working on parks, recreation, and open space. And the third chapter is economic development. To begin the meeting, we'll have comments from the audience. And because we will be having a public hearing also, if you want to talk on the comprehensive plan and especially those three elements that I uh just parks and recreation economic development and the introduction, I would probably wait until the public hearing is opened up. If you want to talk on other elements or any general comments, uh please use this time. And so I am going to open up public comment. And please uh come to the podium or raise your hand if you're online, and you'll have three minutes. Is there anyone? Yes, please just come forward. Hey, um, this is my first public comment, so I'm not quite sure what the process is. No, state your name. Um, my name's Neil Liebeck. I live and work in Kirkland. Wonderful. Um Yeah, so I wanted to talk about the comp plan, uh, but an element that I don't think is one of the three uh chapters tonight. Um the I understand that there's a part of the comp plan focused on increasing housing density near transit corridors. And my understanding is that the current target that they're looking at is 50 units per acre within a 15 minute walkshot of transit. Um and there are some folks, including me, who are hoping for a higher target like a hundred units per acre. Um, and I guess I have a few reasons for hoping for that increase. Um one is just having more housing and making Kirkland more affordable to live in. Uh another is that I really like riding the 255 bus, and I think having good public transit access is an important equity thing for Kirkland. And I think we King County Metro won't bring the service back if we don't have the ridership. You know, there's a chicken and egg problem. And I think increasing housing density near transit corridors could let us sort of break the catch-22 and increase demand for uh bus service and hopefully get the service cuts reversed and get more 255 service. Uh I guess that's it. Thanks. Great, thank you very much. Do we have anyone else? Uh and also is there anyone online? If raise your hand so that we can see if you oh please come forward.
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