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Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Special Meeting - April 24, 2025

Planning Commission — Thursday, April 24, 2025
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, April 24, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:27:38

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:06

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

1:10

Let's start with a roll call.

1:12

Rhea Heiser.

1:14

Aaron Jacobson.

1:15

Here.

1:15

Gina Medea.

1:17

Here.

1:17

Scott Ricer.

1:18

Here.

1:19

Justin Robbins.

1:20

Here.

1:20

Angela Rosman.

1:21

Here.

1:21

Rodney Rutherford.

1:23

Here.

1:24

And with a quorum with the majority of the commissioners present, we have a quorum.

1:30

So next is comments from the audience.

1:33

Can I say something really quick?

1:37

Just for anyone who is commenting not on the public hearing, but potentially talking about parking.

1:44

I just wanted to bring notice to everyone that the state has passed a couple of parking bills this year.

1:52

Um that would limit parking requirements to point five per unit and none for under 1200 square feet.

2:02

So if that is part of what you want to say, I just wanted to give you a heads up and let you focus on the stuff that we can take into advisement.

2:13

You're welcome to talk about parking.

2:14

I just wanted to give you heads up, so if you wanted to spend your time talking about other things, um you can do so.

2:22

Thank you, Commissioner Rosman.

2:24

All right.

2:25

With that, I will introduce uh the next item on our agenda is yes.

2:33

This I'm in about to introduce that that item.

2:39

It it is uh items and items from the audience.

2:42

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

2:47

Tonight's public hearing is for proposed zoned zoning code amendments to codify the city's ability to adopt development agreements.

2:55

In order to hear from as many so this will not be covering that section.

2:59

We'll cover that later.

3:01

This is for any other topic.

3:02

In order to hear from as many people as possible tonight, we're allowing any individual wishing to provide comments to speak for a maximum of three minutes.

3:09

The timer on the lecture will flash a yellow light when 30 seconds remain, and a red light when your time has ended.

3:15

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

3:19

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

3:22

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

3:30

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

3:35

But this is not a time for give and take with the commission.

3:37

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

3:44

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

3:51

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

3:58

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

4:03

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

4:16

So please remain muted until I call your name, and then you may unmute to address the commission.

4:21

So the first uh signed in tonight is and only for for in-person uh comments is Kate uh Conat.

4:34

And after that we'll have Brady Nordstrom on the online.

4:39

Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for your hard work on behalf of our Kirkland community.

4:44

My name is Kate Conant, and I live in the Wanita neighborhood of Kirkland.

4:48

I'm commenting on attachment number two, the JBD four rezone of the Michaels Cath Kelly sites.

4:55

My focus is on the development standards of public benefits, pedestrian access and walkways.

5:01

Attachment number two recommends improving the walkways along the busy intersection at the Juanita at the intersection of Juanita Drive and 100th Avenue.

5:09

I'm thankful for these improved sidewalk recommendations.

5:12

However, the pedestrian access recommendations do not go far enough.

5:17

We need improved sidewalks on the southwest corner and a version of option A, a through block pathway, which is, I believe, the term you're using between Juanita Beach and Juanita Bay Parks.

5:31

The citizens of Kirkland need a greenway path at the site, allowing them to move between the parks surrounded by the unique natural features of this lakeside environment.

5:39

I don't need to tell you that Kirkland citizens value their connected green space, parks, and lakeshore.

5:44

It's in the Juanita neighborhood plan vision statement and throughout the neighborhood plan policies.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning And Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Transportation████████████15%
Affordable Housing███████9%
Procedural████5%
Community Engagement███4%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Economic Development██2%
Public Engagement██2%
Parking Management█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Special Meeting - April 24, 2025

This special meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission focused on two major items: a public hearing on zoning code amendments to codify the city's ability to adopt development agreements, and a study session on zoning code amendments for the North Juanita Center (JBD4 and BC1 zones). The commission also heard public comments on the Juanita rezones and took action on the development agreement code changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kate Conant (Juanita neighborhood resident) expressed support for improved pedestrian access and walkways in the JBD4 rezone, emphasizing the need for an easement and a through-block pathway connecting Juanita Beach and Juanita Bay Parks. She stated that the current recommendations do not go far enough.
  • Brady Nordstrom (Housing Development Consortium) expressed support for the housing opportunity in Juanita, noting that Kirkland has not met housing targets and that these parcels are ideal for growth. He urged the commission to keep a solutions-oriented mindset to meet affordable housing goals.
  • Liz Hunt (Kirkland resident) raised concerns about transportation concurrency, noting that the 2024 report includes only one mitigation project (a northbound turn lane) which may be insufficient. She also questioned the reliability of bus service and requested better formatting of development standards tables.
  • Kathy Schmal (Kirkland resident, near 100th and 116th) expressed opposition to the proposed seven-story building at the Michaels site, citing severe traffic congestion and environmental concerns.
  • Ingrid Salmon (via online) spoke in support of housing but urged consideration of a community gathering space (town square) at the Goodwill site and suggested improvements for pedestrian and bike safety.
  • During the public hearing on development agreements, Liz Hunt commented on the provision allowing differing development standards within a quarter mile of I-405, questioning why it extends beyond future BRT stations.

Discussion Items

1. Public Hearing on Zoning Code Amendments – Development Agreements

  • Staff presented a proposal to codify procedures for development agreements (DAs), allowing the city to negotiate with property owners for assurance on development standards and public benefits. A key provision allows differing standards for properties within a quarter mile of I-405 if the council finds greater public benefits. The commission discussed the need for adequate transit access and the case-by-case nature of DAs. Commissioner Reusser raised concerns about limited transit access along the I-405 corridor, but staff clarified that the provision is not a rezoning and only triggers negotiation. The commission unanimously approved the staff recommendation, including an amendment to clarify the city is not obligated to negotiate.

2. Study Session on North Juanita Center Zoning Code Amendments (JBD4 & BC1)

  • Staff presented community engagement findings, traffic study background, and detailed development standard options for both the Michaels (JBD4) and Goodwill (BC1) sites. Applicants for both sites presented their proposals:
    • Carl Peterson (Michaels site owner) requested seven stories, citing feasibility constraints from wetlands and lease terms. Traffic engineer Jeff Schram noted that the proposed 170 residential units would generate fewer PM peak trips (approximately 70) than the current Michaels store (over 100 trips).
    • Alison Warner (Balboa Retail Partners for Goodwill site) presented three conceptual schemes (600 units, 480 units, and a mix of apartments and townhomes), emphasizing the need for flexibility in retail requirements and height to achieve feasibility.
  • The commission reviewed and provided direction on numerous standards for both sites, including uses, ground floor requirements, height, density, parking, design review, public benefits, and affordable housing. Key outcomes are detailed below.

Key Outcomes

  • Development Agreement Code Amendments: The commission voted unanimously to approve the staff recommendation (with the amendment) to forward to City Council for adoption on May 6.
  • JBD4 (Michaels Site) Direction to Staff:
    • Uses: Staff recommendation adopted.
    • Ground Floor Requirements: Option C (flexible, with majority of ground floor commercial along Juanita Drive, excluding 98th) with note to explore waterward park-to-park connection.
    • Pedestrian-Oriented Streets: Staff recommendation (extend Plate 34i) adopted.
    • Density: Staff recommendation (remove density requirement) adopted.
    • Building Height: Option C (75 feet, applicant request) adopted (vote: 4-1 against).
    • Height Transitions: Option B (no height transitions required) adopted.
    • Design Review: Option B (rely on existing design regulations) adopted.
    • Parking: Directed staff to draft code consistent with anticipated state law (0.5 spaces per unit).
    • Public Benefits: Option B adopted, with study of waterward park-to-park connection.
    • Public Open Space: Option A (staff recommendation) adopted.
    • Land Use Buffer: Option C (no buffer required) adopted.
    • Setbacks: Staff recommendation (no changes) adopted.
    • Affordable Housing: Keep existing 10% at 50% AMI requirement, but consider flexibility options (e.g., MFTE program review).
    • High-Performing Building Standards: Option B (do not require) as baseline, with both options presented at public hearing.
    • Signs: Staff recommendation (Category E) adopted.
    • Lot Coverage: 100% (instead of staff's 90%) adopted.
    • Review Process: Allow developer to choose between design review board or administrative design review.
  • BC1 (Goodwill Site) Direction to Staff:
    • Uses: Option C (allow attached dwelling units within study area) with all options presented at public hearing.
    • Ground Floor Requirements: Applicant request (60% active frontage on 100th Ave) with a hard cap on residential ancillary uses, commercial required on 100th only.
    • Pedestrian-Oriented Streets: Staff recommendation (extend designation to 100th and 132nd, with enhanced right-of-way) adopted.
    • Density: Remove density restriction; staff to explore minimum density requirement.
    • Building Height: Option B (75 feet outright) adopted.
    • Height Transitions: Applicant request (45-degree sky exposure plane) adopted.
    • Design Review: Same as JBD4 (rely on existing regulations).
    • Parking: Same as JBD4 (draft to state law).
    • Public Benefits: Explore enhanced bicycle infrastructure and public open space (option B - applicant request).
    • Public Open Space: Applicant request (per-unit requirement with public access portion) adopted.
    • Land Use Buffer: Staff recommendation (retain existing) adopted.
    • Setbacks: Staff recommendation (retain) adopted.
    • Affordable Housing: Same as JBD4 (keep existing, explore flexibility).
    • High-Performing Building Standards: Same as JBD4 (no requirement baseline).
    • Signs: Same as JBD4.
    • Lot Coverage: 100% adopted.
    • Review Process: Same as JBD4 (flexibility between DRB and administrative).
  • Next Steps: The public hearing for the North Juanita code amendments is set for June 12, 2025. The commission also approved the minutes from February 27, 2025. Officer elections will be held at the May 8 meeting.

Meeting Transcript

This meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission is called to order. Let's start with a roll call. Rhea Heiser. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Scott Ricer. Here. Justin Robbins. Here. Angela Rosman. Here. Rodney Rutherford. Here. And with a quorum with the majority of the commissioners present, we have a quorum. So next is comments from the audience. Can I say something really quick? Just for anyone who is commenting not on the public hearing, but potentially talking about parking. I just wanted to bring notice to everyone that the state has passed a couple of parking bills this year. Um that would limit parking requirements to point five per unit and none for under 1200 square feet. So if that is part of what you want to say, I just wanted to give you a heads up and let you focus on the stuff that we can take into advisement. You're welcome to talk about parking. I just wanted to give you heads up, so if you wanted to spend your time talking about other things, um you can do so. Thank you, Commissioner Rosman. All right. With that, I will introduce uh the next item on our agenda is yes. This I'm in about to introduce that that item. It it is uh items and items from the audience. This is the portion of the meeting when we hear it from the public about items that are not scheduled for public hearing. Tonight's public hearing is for proposed zoned zoning code amendments to codify the city's ability to adopt development agreements. In order to hear from as many so this will not be covering that section. We'll cover that later. This is for any other topic. In order to hear from as many people as possible tonight, we're allowing any individual wishing to provide comments to speak for a maximum of three minutes. The timer on the lecture will flash a yellow light when 30 seconds remain, and a red light when your time has ended. 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 that comment and instead 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. Obscene, profane, threatening, harassing our 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 whose views may differ. We'll begin items in 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. So please remain muted until I call your name, and then you may unmute to address the commission. So the first uh signed in tonight is and only for for in-person uh comments is Kate uh Conat. And after that we'll have Brady Nordstrom on the online. Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for your hard work on behalf of our Kirkland community.

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