The Kirkland Planning Commission held a study session on February 27, 2025, to review draft code amendments for compliance with House Bill 1110 (middle housing) and other state housing legislation. The meeting included public testimony from residents, developers, and industry representatives, followed by commissioner deliberations on density, housing types, parking, and affordable housing requirements. No formal votes were taken; the commission provided directional guidance to staff.
This is the Kirkland Planning Commission meeting of Thursday, February 27th, 2025. Let's start with a roll call. Brea Heiser. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Scott Ricer. Here. Justin Robbins. Here. Angela Rosman. Here. Rodney Rutherford. Here. The next item on our agenda is comments from the audience. And I will explain how this works. This is the pro the portion of the meeting when we will hear from the public about items that are not scheduled for public hearing, of which there are none tonight. In order to hear from as many people as possible tonight, we are allowing any individual wishing to provide comments to speak for a maximum of three minutes. The timer on the dais uh will flash a yellow light when you're nearing the end of your time and a red light when your time has elapsed. To be fair to all speakers, we will adhere strictly to the three-minute limit. 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 same comment and instead provide a comment or perspective that is unique to you. In making your comments, we ask that you please direct them to the commission. But this is not a time for give and take with the commission. Furthermore, 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 or of excluding others in the community whose views may differ. We'll begin items from the audience with the list of people here in person who have signed up to speak. When I call your name, please approach the DIES to address us. Online audience members may indicate they wish to speak by raising your hand in the Zoom meeting now. When it is your turn to speak, we will admit you into the virtual room as a panelist. Please remain muted until I call your name, and then you may unmute to address the commission. And our first speaker tonight is Nicole McKenzie. Good evening, Commission. Thank you for uh taking the time to listen. I um sorry, I'll try again. Um I uh fortunately was able to review the packet early enough this time to get comments in um well in advance of the meeting. Unfortunately, um, you know, it it appeared that a significant part of one of the charts in chapter one thirteen, I think it's dot two five, um was not included in the packet, and as a result that left me thinking that certain things were being proposed that were not. Umetheless, I I stand by I I did send follow-up comments earlier this morning. I don't know that all of you had an opportunity to review those, so I just wanted to uh speak tonight to address that. Um, you know, I I do recognize that staff is uh sticking with the state's requirements of if you're beyond the quarter mile walking distance from a major transit stop, then it's only up to four units, not six, unless uh you do two that are affordable, in which case you can go to six. So I recognize that. Umetheless I I still stand by my statements that it's not necessary for us to allow all nine of the different um middle housing types in all areas across the the city. And I think that you know we need to be mindful too of the fact that uh the proposal allows for one attached ADU per unit of middle housing on any lot. Um and so you know that that is definitely above and beyond because it doesn't count towards the density allowance. So in areas where you're allowed up to six units per lot, you're actually allowed up to 12 units if you can find a way to fit it on there under the current height and FAR uh regulations. However, and and I understand that those regulations will provide some limitation as to how much, you know, what density we have and what kind of uh middle housing we have. However, we also have been told by staff that they will be coming to you guys in a phase two to propose changes to the height uh limits and FAR limits. So to say to us right now, oh don't worry, because the FAR and height limits are going to prevent that, is a little bit disingenuous, knowing that proposed changes are coming.