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Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - May 22, 2025

Planning Commission — Thursday, May 22, 2025
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, May 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:50:53

Original source
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0:30

We're about to get going.

0:34

Take your positions.

0:42

Call to order this meeting of Kirkland at the Kirkland Planning Commission.

0:46

Let's start with a roll call.

0:48

Oh, okay.

0:52

No worries.

0:54

That was a practice.

1:00

All right.

1:03

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

1:06

Let's start with a roll call.

1:08

Aaron Jacobson.

1:09

Here.

1:10

Gina Medea.

1:11

Here.

1:11

Julia Nolan.

1:12

Here.

1:13

Rice here.

1:14

Here.

1:14

Justin Robins.

1:16

Angela Rosman.

1:17

Here.

1:17

Rodney Rutherford.

1:19

Here.

1:20

And with a majority of commissioners present, we have a quorum and may conduct business.

1:25

The next item is uh comments from the audience.

1:29

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

1:36

Tonight's public hearing is for proposed unit lot subdivision amendments to the Kirkland municipal code uh or zoning code, I think it is actually.

1:44

Is that right?

1:45

Unicode.

1:46

Oh, all right.

1:47

Um are there any signups for public comment?

1:51

Not part of the planning, not part of the uh if you are interested in speaking when you're online.

1:57

It looks like there's only one attendee, though.

1:59

You can raise your virtual hand, click the raise hand button if you'd like to speak now.

2:03

Um otherwise um we can uh move on to the next item on the agenda.

2:12

Um the next item listed is special presentations of which we have none, uh, followed by uh I believe the following item on the agenda is the critical areas ordinance.

2:23

We wanted to give a chance if there is anyone who is time pressed and wants to oh let's see, I'm turning over like I'm looking at my notes on the agenda, and I can't remember the official order and what we were.

2:36

Yeah, I think we can just proceed with the study session.

2:38

Okay, let's go with the study session.

2:39

Sounds good.

2:40

All right.

2:41

So uh we will proceed with the study session and we will uh conduct the public hearing after the study session.

2:47

I believe that's what's printed in the agenda as well.

2:50

All right.

2:50

So staff, go ahead and uh take it from here.

2:53

Thank you, Mr.

2:54

Chair.

2:54

So tonight we have your first briefing on the critical area ordinance update.

2:58

This is another state requirement.

3:00

So this is our periodic update of the critical area ordinance now, ordinance.

3:05

Um we did have this item in your packet a couple meetings ago.

3:10

We did bump the actual presentation and briefing from that meeting.

3:13

So this is a bit of a combo of the intro we intended to give you a couple meetings ago and your first deep dive into a specific topic.

3:21

Uh leading you through that tonight are two, I think newer faces to the commission.

3:25

We have our environmental program coroner coordinator Anna Heckman and senior planner Jen Ander, and I will hand it over to them.

3:34

Good evening.

3:35

Um I'm Anna Heckman.

3:37

Uh Jen and I are partners on this, and we both have very different skill sets.

3:43

And so hopefully we're able to elevate what we're able to present to you.

3:47

My background is uh in biology.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Environmental Protection█████████████████19%
Zoning Regulations████████████████17%
Permit Processing████████9%
Planning And Zoning███3%
Public Engagement██2%
Legislative Updates█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - May 22, 2025

The Kirkland Planning Commission convened on May 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included a study session on the Critical Areas Ordinance update, a public hearing on proposed Unit Lot Subdivision amendments, and administrative reports. Key actions included unanimous approval of the subdivision amendments and acknowledgment of Commissioner Robbins' resignation.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Liz Hunt, Kirkland: During the public hearing on Unit Lot Subdivision amendments, expressed that the code appears straightforward and aligned with state law, but voiced concern about unanticipated side effects and how the process will work in practice in Kirkland.
  • Kyle Sullivan, Kirkland: Expressed support for the Unit Lot Subdivision amendments, stating they add flexibility and that developers will choose what makes sense. Also wished retiring Senior Planner Janice Swenson well.
  • Liz Hunt, Kirkland: During the final audience comment period, thanked Janice Swenson for her work and contributions.

Discussion Items

  • Critical Areas Ordinance Briefing: Deputy Planning Director Allison Zike introduced the presentation. Environmental Program Coordinator Anna Heckman reviewed state requirements, the five categories of critical areas (Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas, Frequently Flooded Areas, Wetlands, Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas including Streams, and Geologically Hazardous Areas), and provided maps of critical areas in Kirkland and neighboring cities. Senior Planner Jennifer Anderer explained current permit review processes and proposed code amendments for KZC 85 (Geologically Hazardous Areas) and KZC 90 (Wetlands/Streams/Habitat), including potential streamlining, thresholds for peer review, and buffer standard clarifications. Commissioners asked about costs, outreach, and applicability to specific sites (e.g., the Michael site). Staff noted that the city's current code largely meets best available science and that upcoming study sessions will focus on streams and geologically hazardous areas.
  • Proposed Unit Lot Subdivision Amendments (CAM25-00299): Allison Zike presented the state-required amendments to KMC 22.22, aimed at creating fee-simple unit lots within a parent lot to facilitate middle housing development. Amendments include definitions, parent lot compliance standards, recording requirements, and concurrent permit review process. Staff conducted a focus group with the Master Builders Association and borrowed from other jurisdictions. Commissioners discussed flexibility, common area ownership, floor area ratio vesting, and potential for retroactive conversions. No public comment emails were received prior to the meeting.
  • Administrative Reports and Commission Discussion: Staff reviewed the upcoming agenda including the Juanita Zoning Code Amendments public hearing, further Critical Areas Ordinance deep dives, and a briefing on co-living regulations. Vice Chair Rozmyn reported on City Council review of the Juanita amendments, noting council generally supported planning commission direction but had questions on townhomes at the Goodwill site. Deputy Director Zike reported that City Council directed staff to prepare a Zoning Code Amendment to allow more flexible installation of artificial turf, which will be bundled with other miscellaneous code amendments. Chair Rutherford announced Commissioner Justin Robbins submitted his resignation; City Council will determine next steps.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to approve the Unit Lot Subdivision amendments as proposed by staff: Moved by Vice Chair Rozmyn, seconded by Commissioner Jacobson. The motion carried 6-0 (Members present: Chair Rutherford, Vice Chair Rozmyn, Commissioners Jacobson, Madeya, Nolan, Reusser. Commissioner Robbins absent).
  • Commissioner Justin Robbins' resignation was announced; City Council will address next steps.
  • City Council directed staff to prepare Zoning Code Amendment increasing flexibility for artificial turf installation, to be brought before the Planning Commission in July as part of a miscellaneous code amendment package.

Meeting Transcript

We're about to get going. Take your positions. Call to order this meeting of Kirkland at the Kirkland Planning Commission. Let's start with a roll call. Oh, okay. No worries. That was a practice. All right. This meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission is called to order. Let's start with a roll call. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Julia Nolan. Here. Rice here. Here. Justin Robins. Angela Rosman. Here. Rodney Rutherford. Here. And with a majority of commissioners present, we have a quorum and may conduct business. The next item is uh comments from the audience. Uh this is the portion of the meeting where we hear from the public about items that are not scheduled for public public hearing tonight. Tonight's public hearing is for proposed unit lot subdivision amendments to the Kirkland municipal code uh or zoning code, I think it is actually. Is that right? Unicode. Oh, all right. Um are there any signups for public comment? Not part of the planning, not part of the uh if you are interested in speaking when you're online. It looks like there's only one attendee, though. You can raise your virtual hand, click the raise hand button if you'd like to speak now. Um otherwise um we can uh move on to the next item on the agenda. Um the next item listed is special presentations of which we have none, uh, followed by uh I believe the following item on the agenda is the critical areas ordinance. We wanted to give a chance if there is anyone who is time pressed and wants to oh let's see, I'm turning over like I'm looking at my notes on the agenda, and I can't remember the official order and what we were. Yeah, I think we can just proceed with the study session. Okay, let's go with the study session. Sounds good. All right. So uh we will proceed with the study session and we will uh conduct the public hearing after the study session. I believe that's what's printed in the agenda as well. All right. So staff, go ahead and uh take it from here. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So tonight we have your first briefing on the critical area ordinance update. This is another state requirement. So this is our periodic update of the critical area ordinance now, ordinance.

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