Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - May 23, 2024: Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing #2 and Goat Hill Briefing
Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting – May 23, 2024
The Kirkland Planning Commission held a lengthy public hearing (the second in the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update process) to consider amendments to the Land Use, Sustainability Climate & Environment (SCE), and Human Services elements, along with updates to the Juanita and Kingsgate Neighborhood Plans. The meeting also included a study session on the Goat Hill development moratorium. After hearing extensive public testimony and deliberating, the Commission voted to recommend the SCE and Human Services elements (with amendments), recommended the Juanita Neighborhood Plan (as amended), and continued the public hearings for the Kingsgate Neighborhood Plan and the Land Use Element to future dates.
Public Comments & Testimony
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General Comments (Non-Hearing Items): Two speakers addressed the Goat Hill draft regulations. Josh Friedmann (representing Montebanc Management) urged a balanced approach, arguing that a 20% floor area ratio (FAR) and lot coverage limit would act as a downzone, hamper housing targets, and lose the opportunity for emergency access improvements. Steve Clarke (representing Bill and Monica Moore, property owners) described the owners’ fear that a 1,300 sq. ft. limit on a 6,500 sq. ft. lot would make the property virtually worthless.
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Public Hearing Testimony: Over 30 speakers provided comments on the Comprehensive Plan elements, neighborhood plans, and specific land use changes. Key themes included:
- Support for Increased Housing and Density: Luke Travis, Bev Marcus, Josh Phua, Neil Liebeck, and others expressed strong support for more housing, especially near transit, and urged eliminating parking requirements and design review. They argued that dense housing is needed to address affordability and that transit-oriented development reduces car dependency.
- Opposition to Specific Sites (Michaels and Goodwill in Juanita): Multiple residents (Lori McGovern, Kate Conant, Karen Hartman, James Kumin, Mike McMillian, and others) opposed the proposed height increases (up to 70–75 feet) and density at these sites, citing traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure (especially on 132nd Street and Finn Hill), impacts on wetlands and wildlife, lack of grocery stores, and strain on schools and emergency services. Some speakers noted that 1,200 new units would add significant vehicle trips to a single-lane road with limited egress.
- Mixed or Reluctant Positions: Leif Giering spoke begrudgingly in favor, saying housing supply must increase. Karl Petersson (property owner of Michaels site) and Allison Warner (owner of Goodwill site) supported staff recommendations, emphasizing opportunities for housing and improved pedestrian connections.
- Human Services and Senior Concerns: Jack Staudt and Terry Steele-Kalet (Chair of Kirkland Senior Council) urged the Commission to consider the growing senior population (projected to approach 40% by 2029) and recommended adding policy language to support aging in place and community integration.
- Land Use and Transit Assumptions: Several speakers questioned the assumption that Kirkland will become more transit-oriented, noting that bus ridership has not increased and that cars remain essential, especially for seniors and families. Others supported studying higher densities above 50 units/acre along frequent transit corridors.
- Other Topics: Comments also addressed the Par Mac Business Park (opposition to 180-foot towers near single-family homes), the need for a Juanita Public Pathway, and the importance of preserving neighborhood identity.
Discussion Items
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Sustainability, Climate & Environment (SCE) Element: Staff presented an overview of the updated element, including new goals and policies on greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience (per HB 1181). Commissioner Aaron Jacobson moved to recommend the element as amended by deleting the word "emerging" from Policy SCE-5.13 narrative text. The amendment passed 7-0, and the element was recommended 7-0.
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Human Services Element: After a brief presentation, Commissioner Jacobson moved to recommend the element as drafted. An amendment by Vice Chair Bria Heiser to ensure Policy HS-1.6 is consistent with the language in draft Resolution R5631 (concerning homelessness coordination) passed 7-0. A proposed new policy HS-4.6 on aging in place was withdrawn. The element was recommended 7-0.
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Juanita Neighborhood Plan: Extensive discussion centered on policies J-6, J-16, and J-20, which address density and development standards for the Michaels and Goodwill sites. Amendments to J-6 added "or other density requirements" and "or other policies" (both passed 6-1, with Vice Chair Heiser dissenting). An amendment to J-16 added emphasis on "neighborhood serving grocery and retail" and "safe and efficient egress" (passed 5-2, with Chair Rutherford and Commissioner Jacobson dissenting). A proposed amendment to include "greater affordability" failed 1-6. A motion to remove specific site references was withdrawn. The Juanita plan as amended was recommended 6-1 (Commissioner Katya Allen dissenting).
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Kingsgate Neighborhood Plan: Due to the late hour and desire for more time to consider minor amendments, the Commission voted 7-0 to continue the public hearing to July 11, 2024, and leave the written record open.
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Land Use Element: The Commission voted 7-0 to continue the public hearing to June 13, 2024, and leave the record open for written comments. Staff clarified that the element does not rezone properties but sets policy direction for future zoning code amendments.
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Goat Hill Development Moratorium (Study Session): Planning & Building Director Adam Weinstein briefed the Commission on potential code and policy amendments, including reducing floor area ratio (FAR) and lot coverage (proposed range 20%–40%), construction metering practices, and a road improvement district white paper. Commissioners expressed skepticism about using FAR as a blunt tool and urged direct connections to specific problems (e.g., construction traffic, stormwater). They suggested exploring fee-based mechanisms or incentives for emergency access improvements. The briefing concluded with no formal action; staff will refine proposals and may schedule an additional briefing before a public hearing.
Key Outcomes
- SCE Element: Recommended to City Council as amended (7-0).
- Human Services Element: Recommended to City Council with amendment to align Policy HS-1.6 with future resolution R5631 (7-0).
- Juanita Neighborhood Plan: Recommended to City Council with amendments to Policies J-6 and J-16 (6-1).
- Kingsgate Neighborhood Plan: Public hearing continued to July 11, 2024 (7-0).
- Land Use Element: Public hearing continued to June 13, 2024 (7-0).
- Other Subarea Plans: Public hearing continued to July 11, 2024 (7-0).
- Goat Hill Moratorium: No formal decision; staff will incorporate Commission feedback and may bring revised concepts to a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
And should we start with uh roll call? Gotcha, Alan. Ria Heiser. Here. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Madia. Here. Scott Racer. Here. Angela Rosman. Here. Ronnie Rutherford. Here. Thanks. All right. And Katya is here. Thank you for bringing that up. So welcome. This is my first meeting as chair of the planning commission. So, and this is a big one, in case you hadn't noticed. In this role. To start, I'd also like to address some concerns that I've heard about how the commission receives and addresses public comment. In response to public comment at the most recent hearing, in light of light breaking changes to the draft, the commission decided to keep the record open. And further uh allow for receive further comment on the drafted introductory element of the comp. And that was in response to comments at uh that we received uh at the at the public hearing. More generally, though, as a body of human volunteers, the commission is generally not able to directly address individual public comments, especially in deliberations. However, I do expect that every commissioner should intently receive and deeply consider every comment. Now, to help us with that, um, when possible, I encourage you to share your written comments with the commission as early as possible so that we can have time to uh appropriately uh consider uh and deeply consider each perspective. And when that's not possible, and especially if action is still yet to be taken on the topic, I encourage you to follow up your spoken comments with a written summary, uh, especially if you include more details or um references that might be impractical to include in spoken uh comments. And and beyond this, I'd love to find more ways to nurture more effective collaboration and communication between the commission, the public, the council, and the staff. But that's like a you know a bigger thing that I'd like to think about beyond uh the meeting tonight, of course. In the meantime, I'd like to share some suggestions to make the most of our limited time tonight. The commission especially wants to gain the perspective of a broad diversity of people who care about our community and to deeply consider the full variety of ideas and perspectives so that we can ensure that they are addressed as best as we are able. Now to help us in that effort and to make the best use of of your limited speaking time tonight, because each person only has uh uh three minutes. I'll I'll share a little pro tip. If your point has already been raised by someone else, I invite you to simply raise your or to voice your support when it comes for your time to talk. Uh voice your support for the earlier speakers' points, and use the bulk of your time to highlight new points that others have not yet covered. That'll help make your point more uh more succinct, more memorable, and will help us make the most the most of our time tonight. So um with that, I'd like to move on to the next item on the agenda, which is items from the audience. Um good. All right. Um the items from the audience time is for any uh comments on items that are not scheduled for public hearing tonight. So that is uh human services, the neighborhood plans, and sustainability. And land use. Land use. Oh, that's right. Um so those topics in particular, um, including the the updates to the Kingsgate and Wanita and all the neighborhoods, that is should be considered during the public hearing time uh not in the items in the audience. Do it during public during the public hearings that uh becomes public part of the record. Um this is the time to comment on any other topics, including Goat Hill, the Goat Hill Development Moratorium, um, because that is not part of the comprehensive, it's not part of the the planning, the uh public hearing for tonight.
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