OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Public Hearing on 2044 Comprehensive Plan – July 2, 2024

Planning Commission — Tuesday, July 2, 2024
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, July 2, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:45:00

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

All right.

0:04

Are we good to go?

0:06

All right.

0:07

Welcome to the June 27th, 2024 meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission.

0:15

This is the call to order.

0:17

Roll call.

0:19

Gotcha, Ellen.

0:20

Yes.

0:21

Are you high, sir?

0:23

Erin Jacobson.

0:25

Here.

0:25

Gina Medea.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Scott Ryser.

0:29

Here.

0:29

Angela Ralsman.

0:31

Here.

0:32

Rodney Retrofruit.

0:34

Here.

0:34

Thanks.

0:36

All right.

0:37

I believe we're starting tonight with items from the audience.

0:40

So this is specifically specifically for any topic that is not scheduled to be covered at the public hearing.

0:49

Uh to remind you that public hearing will include several elements from the comprehensive plan, including transportation, utilities, public services, implementation strategies, capital facilities, as well as the supplemental environmental impact statement and its draft specifically.

1:09

And so if you would like to speak on anything that is not one of those topics, this is the time.

1:15

If you want to speak, make sure that your first and last name is set correctly on Zoom.

1:21

And then click the raise hand button at the bottom of your Zoom screen.

1:26

A few minutes before it's your turn to speak, you'll be promoted to panelist status.

1:30

And then remain on mute until I, the chair uh tell you to start speaking.

1:36

Once you start speaking, you'll be limited to three minutes per speaker.

1:41

And there will be at least we're expecting there'll be a timer that you'll be able to watch on the screen so that you're able to see how much time is left.

1:50

So is there, is there anyone, any of our attendees who would like to address us for items in the audience.

2:01

We do have one speaker in chambers, Chair Rutherford.

2:04

Right on some audience.

2:06

Great.

2:06

Um, should we go ahead and let them go and then uh we'll invite the attendee who raised their hand uh as a panelist and queue them up to follow.

2:18

Press start.

2:20

Hi, yeah, start with your name, please.

2:21

Thank you.

2:22

Thank you.

2:23

I'm Ingrid Salmon.

2:24

This is spelled like the fish is spelt.

2:28

And then I live in North Wanita neighborhood, and I'm on the board officially of the Winita Neighborhood Association.

2:37

Um, it's clear to me that what I plan to say is not in the transportation element other than the transportation element of the comprehensive plan over the next 20 years, right?

2:49

Time horizon.

2:51

Um, I think if I were to say something, it would be could you speed up some of the smaller things to do?

2:58

Um I'm a uh advocate.

3:01

I got here on bike and bus.

3:04

I had a single ride, meaning I was the only one on the bus.

3:07

But um that uh, you know, that area.

3:11

I would like to remind us uh of North Kirkland was I think constructed under King County, and and they didn't do pedestrians, people any favors.

3:22

Um school children or yeah, to get there without a personal vehicle.

3:28

And so little things I think can really add up to make a difference.

3:32

Uh I was in Vancouver, BC, not to compare us too much to our neighbors, but they had um areas that were blocked off at the street ends where it allowed bikes to go through, pedestrians to go through, but cars to to not go through.

3:48

Our sister city here of Seattle also has uh roads that are you know blocked off for um only local traffic and pedestrians.

3:58

I think they were doing that out at the pandemic and they continued.

4:01

I haven't actually seen that in Kirkland.

4:03

So these little sort of low cost things, I think I would really uh encourage us to um get get moving on.

4:11

Um an even 20 miles per hour.

4:16

Um you know, to keep some low stress.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation███████████████████████████27%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Comprehensive Planning█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Housing███████7%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Public Services████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Public Hearing on 2044 Comprehensive Plan Update – July 2, 2024

Note: The agenda, minutes, and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on June 27, 2024, but the user instruction specifies July 2, 2024. This summary uses the instructed date.

The Kirkland Planning Commission held a public hearing on the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Update, covering the Transportation, Utilities, Public Services, Capital Facilities, and Implementation elements, as well as the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The meeting began at 6:04 PM and adjourned at 8:54 PM. Six commissioners were present (Chair Rutherford, Jacobson, Allen, Madeya, Reusser, Rozmyn); Vice Chair Heiser was absent. Staff presented each element, and the public provided testimony. The Commission deliberated and voted unanimously on recommendations for each element.

Public Comments & Testimony

Before the public hearing:

  • Ingrid Salmon (Juanita Neighborhood Association board) urged the City to move forward on small, low-cost transportation projects.
  • Karen Hartman (Kirkland Senior Council) recommended adding a Kirkland shuttle to the Comprehensive Plan to serve seniors.

During the public hearing (12 speakers):

  • Nancy Sackman (Duwamish Tribe cultural preservation officer) echoed the Tribe’s written comments supporting the plan and inviting partnership.
  • Rachel Sera expressed support for the Growth Alternative in the SEIS, citing benefits of transit and reduced carbon footprint.
  • Jennifer Jaeger referred to letters from Eastside Housing Roundtable and Livable Kirkland, supporting abundant housing of all types.
  • Forrest Whitehouse supported the Growth Alternative but urged studying densities higher than 50 units per acre to make apartments practical.
  • Luke Travis described skyrocketing housing costs and urged bold action to allow more housing, especially near transit.
  • Nora Myers (Tesla STEM High School senior) noted that lack of density increases environmental emissions and urged support for more housing.
  • Liam Myers advocated for a car-free lifestyle, urged studying 200 dwelling units per acre to support robust transit.
  • Hung-Su Nguyen shared living with six people due to housing shortage, supported more abundant housing and transit.
  • Kyle Sullivan liked the plan but urged studying higher densities (up to 100+ units/acre) to allow flexible zoning.
  • Beverly Marcus supported a 10-minute city concept with abundant and affordable housing and zoning changes for corner stores.
  • Liz Hunt expressed concerns about transportation infrastructure capacity for 30% population growth and urged leveraging the Station Area plan.
  • Yishu Xu supported more housing but recommended developing more bus lines alongside new housing on key transit routes.

Discussion Items

Utilities Element: Senior Planner Lindsay Levine reviewed goals and policies addressing water, sewer, power, telecom, sustainability, and EV charging. The Commission asked clarifying questions about deleted policies (U-5.10, covered by zoning code).

Public Services Element: Levine reviewed policies for fire, police, schools, emergency management, including affordable housing for employees and wildfire coordination.

Capital Facilities Element: Senior Planner Scott Guter presented goals for city-owned facilities; tables to follow in fall.

Transportation Element: Transportation Planner Kim Scrivner highlighted safety, active transportation, transit, equity, and land-use support. Transportation Commission Vice Chair Patrick Vu described the Transportation Strategic Plan work. Discussion included e-charging, shuttle services, and senior transit.

Implementation Chapter: Senior Planner Janice Swenson presented revisions to methods and proposed deleting the strategies section, as functional plans now include detailed implementation.

Draft SEIS: Swenson reviewed the Existing Plan (No Action) and Growth (Action) alternatives, showing similar citywide growth totals but different distribution. Commissioners discussed density flexibility and environmental review scope.

Key Outcomes

All motions passed 6-0:

  • Utilities Element: Adopted staff recommendation.
  • Public Services Element: Adopted staff recommendation.
  • Capital Facilities Element: Recommended approval as presented.
  • Implementation Chapter: Supported staff revisions and relocation to the Introduction Chapter.
  • Transportation Element: Approved as presented, with two amendments:
    1. Amend Action A under Policy T-3.8 to add: "Particular focus should be placed on providing services for transit dependent groups such as seniors."
    2. Amend Policy T-2.1.C to read: "Work with the Planning and Building Department to develop a comprehensive bicycle parking policy to ensure the availability of adequate end of trip facilities including E-charging stations."
  • Minutes: Approved the April 25, 2024 meeting minutes.

Next Steps

  • The comment period for the Draft SEIS remains open until July 12, 2024 (5 PM).
  • Upcoming public hearings: July 11 (neighborhood plans), July 25 (land use element continuation), September 26 (housing element).
  • Staff will draft amendments to Commission policies to change meeting start time from 7 PM to 6 PM.
  • A package of minor zoning text amendments (wireless code cleanup, Market Street corridor, development agreements) will be brought for briefing and public hearing.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Are we good to go? All right. Welcome to the June 27th, 2024 meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission. This is the call to order. Roll call. Gotcha, Ellen. Yes. Are you high, sir? Erin Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Scott Ryser. Here. Angela Ralsman. Here. Rodney Retrofruit. Here. Thanks. All right. I believe we're starting tonight with items from the audience. So this is specifically specifically for any topic that is not scheduled to be covered at the public hearing. Uh to remind you that public hearing will include several elements from the comprehensive plan, including transportation, utilities, public services, implementation strategies, capital facilities, as well as the supplemental environmental impact statement and its draft specifically. And so if you would like to speak on anything that is not one of those topics, this is the time. If you want to speak, make sure that your first and last name is set correctly on Zoom. And then click the raise hand button at the bottom of your Zoom screen. A few minutes before it's your turn to speak, you'll be promoted to panelist status. And then remain on mute until I, the chair uh tell you to start speaking. Once you start speaking, you'll be limited to three minutes per speaker. And there will be at least we're expecting there'll be a timer that you'll be able to watch on the screen so that you're able to see how much time is left. So is there, is there anyone, any of our attendees who would like to address us for items in the audience. We do have one speaker in chambers, Chair Rutherford. Right on some audience. Great. Um, should we go ahead and let them go and then uh we'll invite the attendee who raised their hand uh as a panelist and queue them up to follow. Press start. Hi, yeah, start with your name, please. Thank you. Thank you. I'm Ingrid Salmon. This is spelled like the fish is spelt. And then I live in North Wanita neighborhood, and I'm on the board officially of the Winita Neighborhood Association. Um, it's clear to me that what I plan to say is not in the transportation element other than the transportation element of the comprehensive plan over the next 20 years, right? Time horizon. Um, I think if I were to say something, it would be could you speed up some of the smaller things to do? Um I'm a uh advocate. I got here on bike and bus. I had a single ride, meaning I was the only one on the bus. But um that uh, you know, that area.

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