OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - August 22, 2024: Continued Public Hearing on 2044 Comprehensive Plan – Market Street Corridor and Land Use Element

Planning Commission — Thursday, August 22, 2024
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, August 22, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:41:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

This meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission is called to order.

0:09

Please start with a roll call.

0:12

Cut you, Alan.

0:14

Present.

0:14

Ria Heiser.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Aaron Jacobson.

0:17

Here.

0:17

Gina Medea.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Scott Ricer.

0:20

Here.

0:20

Angela Rosman.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Ronnie Rutherford.

0:23

Here.

0:29

All right.

0:30

The uh next item on our agenda is items from the audience.

0:34

This is the portion of the meeting where we hear from the public about items that are not scheduled for public hearing tonight.

0:41

Before I provide instructions for public comment, I would like to clarify when individuals should provide their comments depending on what you are here to speak about.

0:51

Tonight's agenda includes a continued public hearing to discuss the draft land use element and amendments to the Market Street Corridor Plan.

1:01

The planning commission previously voted to reopen the record for spoken uh testimony both for both of these items tonight.

1:09

If you are here to provide comments on those items, please wait until we uh open the hearing uh later in this agenda.

1:20

Uh if you wish to provide comments on any topic other than the Market Street Corridor plan or the land use element, we will accept those now during the general items from the audience portion of the agenda.

1:33

Now, in order to hear in from as many people as possible tonight, we are allowing any individual wishing to provide oral comments to speak for a maximum of two minutes rather than the typical three minutes.

1:46

We ask that you direct your comments to the commission.

1:50

The timer on the dais will flash a yellow light when you are nearing the end of your time and a red light when your time has elapsed.

1:57

To be fair to all speakers, we will strictly adhere to the two-minute limit.

2:02

We've also been informed in advance that some individuals tonight may wish to provide their comments in a language other than English and have arranged a translator to join them.

2:12

For individuals requiring translation, we will allow two minutes for comments in the language of their choice and two minutes for translation of those comments for a total of four minutes.

2:24

The commission wants to hear from as many different views and opinions as possible.

2:29

If you have already heard another speaker state your comment, please consider not repeating the comment and instead providing a comment or perspective that is unique to you.

2:39

We'll begin items from the audience with a list of people here in person that have signed up to speak.

2:44

When I call your name, please approach the dais to address us.

2:50

Remote audience members may indicate that you wish to speak by raising your hand in the Zoom meeting.

3:09

In making your comments to the commission, we ask that you please direct them to the commission.

3:16

Uh and this is not a time for give and take with the commission, so don't uh please expect uh a direct response.

3:24

Obscene, profane, threatening, harassing, or abusive language towards the commission, city staff, or those in the audience is not allowed.

3:33

As audience members, please refrain from any demonstrative agreement or disagreement with a speaker, such as clapping, cheering, or booing.

3:41

These actions are not only disruptive, they may also intimidate or have the effect of excluding others in the community who whose views may differ.

3:51

In the event of an individual or group of individuals for some reason makes the orderly conduct of this meeting unfeasible.

3:59

I, as chair and presiding officer, will call for a recess so that order can be restored, and so that we don't have to clear the room and uh complete the meeting in another location.

4:10

Make sure that that's not necessary.

4:12

I'm confident that we can have a productive and respectful meeting, even as we address issues that may generate strong and opposing viewpoints.

4:22

With that, we're on to uh comments from the audience.

4:26

Uh do we have um.

4:31

Is it Harold?

4:35

Or if you're the first one to sign in.

4:40

I'm not sure if it was scratched out.

4:43

I think the second person on here is maybe also scratched out.

4:46

So you have one hand raised online.

4:50

Great.

4:50

Um, so we just make sure that person is wanting to speak about something not uh on the public hearing agenda, but we can go ahead and admit them and yes, please go ahead.

5:00

Thank you.

5:05

Go ahead and um introduce yourself.

5:09

Hi, my name is Jocelyn.

5:11

I'm a Kirkland residence for the last um five years.

5:15

Um thank you for those who work in the city and take the time to hear our concerns.

5:19

I know it's not a glamorous position and sometimes very uh thinkless job.

5:24

Um so like I said, I lived here for the last five years in Kirkland, and when we first moved here in Kirkland, we noticed the lack of diversity in Kirkland, and I noticed that that's definitely uh slowly changing.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural███████████████15%
Transportation██████████10%
Comprehensive Planning████████8%
Housing████████8%
Land Use███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Urban Planning███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - August 22, 2024: Continued Public Hearing on 2044 Comprehensive Plan – Market Street Corridor and Land Use Element

The Kirkland Planning Commission held a continued public hearing on the 2044 Comprehensive Plan, focusing on the Market Street Corridor Plan and the Land Use Element (File No. CAM22-00032). The meeting began at 6:00 PM and adjourned at 10:41 PM. Commissioners present: Rodney Rutherford (Chair), Bria Heiser (Vice Chair), Katya Allen, Aaron Jacobson, Gina Madeya, Scott Reusser, and Angela Rozmyn. Staff present: Adam Weinstein, Allison Zike, LeAndra Baker-Lewis, Bryan Cole, Katie Kapoor, and Jeannie Dines. The commission heard extensive public testimony and voted to continue the hearing to September 12, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

Comments from the Audience (6:05 PM – before hearing)

  • Joslande Gracien, Kirkland, emphasized the need for more affordable housing and increased housing supply to address supply and demand.
  • Zurab Nelson, Kirkland, supported building more apartments so people can afford to live in Kirkland.
  • Arjang Tahmasebie, Kirkland, requested that growth not exceed the capacity of infrastructure.

Public Hearing Testimony (6:13 PM – 10:30 PM)

Over 90 speakers provided testimony. Key positions and themes:

  • Support for transit corridor density and increased housing:

    • Lauren Hall-Stigerts (Kirkland) described family challenges due to lack of affordable housing and supported more middle housing near frequent transit.
    • Guillermo Rivera (Eastside for All) supported increasing density and diverse housing types near transit.
    • Matthew Sachs (Kirkland) urged the commission to study more than 100 dwelling units/acre near transit, calling for hope and love over fear and selfishness.
    • William Whitehouse (Kirkland) expressed strong support for the transit corridor proposal but cautioned against tying hands too early.
    • Eli Youngs (Kirkland, resident on a transit corridor) supported more housing in his backyard, citing housing scarcity as artificial.
    • Debbie Lacy (Kirkland, founder of Eastside for All) highlighted benefits of increased affordable housing.
    • Kurt Dresner (Kirkland) supported building more housing, especially along transit, and noted the shame of workers not affording to live in Kirkland.
    • Amanda Reinhart (Hopelink CFO) emphasized the need for affordable housing at every income level.
    • Rex Rempel (Kirkland, professor) said he cannot afford a home despite good income and asked for help making Kirkland affordable.
    • Randy Bannecker (Seattle King County Realtors) asked for bold housing growth, including studying more than 100 dwelling units/acre near transit.
    • Alex Brennan (Futurewise executive director) supported exploring housing options on transit corridors.
    • Brady Nordstrom (Housing Development Consortium) urged support for bold growth strategies near transit.
    • Many other residents supported density on transit corridors, citing the need for teachers, service workers, and young people to live in Kirkland.

  • Opposition or concerns about transit corridor density:

    • Susmita Srikant (Kirkland) described unreliable transit on Finn Hill and urged slowing implementation, considering parking, and developing robust transit.
    • Valentina Little (Kirkland) accused the city of manipulating inclusion/exclusion and feeling excluded.
    • Sarah Jokar-Devis (Kirkland) urged removal of the frequent transit corridors policy due to inadequate transit service.
    • Betsy Lewis (Kirkland) opposed the NE 70th corridor, citing unreliable transit and threats to tree canopy.
    • Deidre Johnson (Kirkland) felt betrayed because previous planning (Station Area Plan) sited density there; transit corridor overlay undermines that work.
    • Luke Johnson (Kirkland) supported affordable housing along transit corridors but not in residential neighborhoods.
    • Gary Greenberg (Kirkland) called the transit corridor plan a massive overstep that would cause irreparable harm.
    • Richard Carlson (Kirkland) said the proposed density is overkill and should be focused in key nodes, not entire corridors.
    • Jackie Mendez (Kirkland) criticized the lack of multiple growth alternatives studied and urged not including transit corridors.
    • Cindy Claypool (Kirkland) opposed opening the door to overdevelopment in transit corridor neighborhoods.
    • Kira Krimkevich (Kirkland) said the concept was introduced too late (January 2024) and has had insufficient study.
    • Many other residents expressed concerns about transit service, infrastructure, neighborhood character, and the belief that density does not guarantee affordability.

Discussion Items

  • Staff Presentation:
    • Allison Zike (Deputy Director) reviewed the process for the Land Use Element, what is decided vs. not decided in the element (no specific heights or rezoning), updates since the June hearing (redraft of Policy LU-2.4 based on Council feedback), and options for the commission (include policy, send without recommendation, or defer). She noted written comments have been received on both sides.
    • LeAndra Baker-Lewis (Senior Planner) provided background on the Market Street Corridor Plan, updates since the July hearing, and reiterated staff's recommendation to remove Policy MS-8 (limiting building height to 2-3 stories) as redundant with existing zoning. She noted that no written testimony had been received on the Market Street plan since July.
  • Commission Discussion:
    • The commission considered whether to deliberate tonight or continue to September 12. After discussion, they reached consensus to take all public testimony tonight, close the oral record, and hold initial thoughts but not final deliberation. They agreed to continue the hearing to September 12, 2024, and leave the written record open.
    • Commissioner Allen emphasized the need for a decision and urged colleagues not to avoid a recommendation.
    • Commissioner Rozmyn noted that keeping the policy in the comp plan ensures transparency.
    • Commissioner Madeya expressed concern about creating a

Meeting Transcript

This meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission is called to order. Please start with a roll call. Cut you, Alan. Present. Ria Heiser. Here. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Scott Ricer. Here. Angela Rosman. Here. Ronnie Rutherford. Here. All right. The uh next item on our agenda is items from the audience. This is the portion of the meeting where we hear from the public about items that are not scheduled for public hearing tonight. Before I provide instructions for public comment, I would like to clarify when individuals should provide their comments depending on what you are here to speak about. Tonight's agenda includes a continued public hearing to discuss the draft land use element and amendments to the Market Street Corridor Plan. The planning commission previously voted to reopen the record for spoken uh testimony both for both of these items tonight. If you are here to provide comments on those items, please wait until we uh open the hearing uh later in this agenda. Uh if you wish to provide comments on any topic other than the Market Street Corridor plan or the land use element, we will accept those now during the general items from the audience portion of the agenda. Now, in order to hear in from as many people as possible tonight, we are allowing any individual wishing to provide oral comments to speak for a maximum of two minutes rather than the typical three minutes. We ask that you direct your comments to the commission. The timer on the dais will flash a yellow light when you are nearing the end of your time and a red light when your time has elapsed. To be fair to all speakers, we will strictly adhere to the two-minute limit. We've also been informed in advance that some individuals tonight may wish to provide their comments in a language other than English and have arranged a translator to join them. For individuals requiring translation, we will allow two minutes for comments in the language of their choice and two minutes for translation of those comments for a total of four minutes. The commission wants to hear from as many different views and opinions as possible. If you have already heard another speaker state your comment, please consider not repeating the comment and instead providing a comment or perspective that is unique to you. We'll begin items from the audience with a list of people here in person that have signed up to speak. When I call your name, please approach the dais to address us. Remote audience members may indicate that you wish to speak by raising your hand in the Zoom meeting. In making your comments to the commission, we ask that you please direct them to the commission. Uh and this is not a time for give and take with the commission, so don't uh please expect uh a direct response. Obscene, profane, threatening, harassing, or abusive language towards the commission, city staff, or those in the audience is not allowed. As audience members, please refrain from any demonstrative agreement or disagreement with a speaker, such as clapping, cheering, or booing. These actions are not only disruptive, they may also intimidate or have the effect of excluding others in the community who whose views may differ. In the event of an individual or group of individuals for some reason makes the orderly conduct of this meeting unfeasible. I, as chair and presiding officer, will call for a recess so that order can be restored, and so that we don't have to clear the room and uh complete the meeting in another location. Make sure that that's not necessary. I'm confident that we can have a productive and respectful meeting, even as we address issues that may generate strong and opposing viewpoints. With that, we're on to uh comments from the audience. Uh do we have um. Is it Harold? Or if you're the first one to sign in. I'm not sure if it was scratched out. I think the second person on here is maybe also scratched out.

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