OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - November 13, 2025

Planning Commission — Thursday, November 13, 2025
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, November 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:01:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

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

0:14

Let's start with a roll call.

0:16

Margaret Bunall.

0:18

Aaron Jacobson.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Gina Medea.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Julia Nolan.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Scott Racer.

0:24

Here.

0:24

Angela Rasman is absent.

0:27

Rodney Rutherford.

0:28

Here.

0:29

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

0:33

The next item on the agenda is comments from the audience.

0:38

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

0:44

Tonight's public hearing is about amendments to the 2025 annual comprehensive plan and zoning map.

0:50

If you would like to address the commission at this time, not about the public hearing, please raise your hand.

0:56

If you are online, click the raise hand button.

0:59

And uh and uh if you are in the audience, I have one person who has signed in and may uh uh come to the mic after I give this uh guidance.

1:12

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

1:20

On the timer is a lecturer or on the timer of the lecture, it'll flash uh yellow light when 30 seconds remain, and a red light when your time has ended.

1:29

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

1:34

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

1:37

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

1:44

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

1:47

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

1:49

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

1:56

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

2:04

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

2:12

So we'll begin's items in the audience with a list of people who are in here in person who have signed up to speak.

2:18

Uh and so when I call your name, uh please approach the dais to address us.

2:23

Um Lisa Berenson.

2:36

Hi, I'm Lisa Baronson, and I was at the last meeting.

2:40

And I'm sure you're probably gonna cover this later.

2:43

But um I just wanted to make this one comment, and I don't know if it's applicable considering this is the planning commission versus the city council.

2:55

But it was raised about um public safety and reducing speed limits.

3:03

And um basically with lowering the speed limits to 20 and to 30 in our neck of the woods.

3:13

Um I drive a lot to Redmond, Bothell, Kenmore, and Bellevue.

3:18

And they have not lowered their speed limits.

3:23

And actually, when I was driving to work the other day, I noticed that part of Redmond had a 40 mile an hour speed limit on one of their main artilleries that takes you right through the border of Kirkland to uh Redmond.

3:39

And what I have also noticed is that there's a huge problem between the transition between Kirkland and Kenmore and Bothell.

3:50

And um I did agree with what one of the other Cit City Council members said that we need more science, even if the posted speed limits are not reduced, there are not enough signs in Kirkland about the speed limits, especially where we abut our neighbors.

4:12

Um other comment.

4:36

Noise that is affecting neighbors negatively.

4:40

I strongly recommend we need one of those signs on Waine to Drive, because still too much drag racing, too much loud traffic noise after 10 p.m.

4:51

at night.

4:51

People can still hear it through their homes that are on both sides of Wanita Drive, and that is primarily residences.

5:05

So I just wanted to put that in there.

5:08

And I don't think lowering the speed limits is really going to solve our problem of accidents or near misses.

5:17

Problem is is we are growing rapidly.

5:20

And also I've seen now with e-bikes and e-scooters, I'm seeing a lot of people driving those over our current speed limit.

5:29

They're not wearing helmets and they're not acting like they're an automobile.

5:34

Thank you, Lisa.

5:38

All right.

5:39

And uh seeing no other requests to comment.

5:45

Um I think we move on to the next item on the agenda.

5:48

Um special presentations, which there are none this time.

5:51

So we're on to the next item, study session.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning And Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████68%
Procedural███████11%
Committee Assignments███████10%
Transportation Safety██3%
Waste Management██3%
Public Engagement█2%
Pending Litigation█2%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting - November 13, 2025

The Kirkland Planning Commission met on November 13, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:01 PM. The meeting included a study session on state-required streamlined design review, a public hearing on the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments and a zoning map amendment, and administrative reports. No items were on the consent calendar. The commission unanimously recommended approval of the comprehensive plan amendments and the rezone of a city-owned property.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Lisa Berenson (Kirkland resident) commented during the audience comment period on a proposal to lower speed limits, noting that surrounding cities have not reduced theirs and that more signs are needed, especially at city borders. She also expressed concerns about noise from drag racing and e-bikes/scooters exceeding speed limits.
  • Liz Hunt (Kirkland resident) spoke during the public hearing on the comprehensive plan amendments, pointing out that the city's website codes (Kirkland Municipal Code, Zoning Code, and Comprehensive Plan) are not up to date and that there is no clear indication to users that the information is outdated. She requested that the codes be updated and made accessible.

Study Session: State-Required Streamlined Design Review (File No. CAM24-00881)

  • Deputy Planning Director Allison Zike introduced the item. Senior Planner Tony Leavitt presented an overview of House Bill 1293 requirements, which mandate that the city apply only clear and objective regulations to exterior design and limit design review to one public meeting. The commission discussed the proposed process changes: staff will conduct administrative review of eligible projects, the Design Review Board (DRB) will review alternative compliance requests, and public noticing will be required for projects that previously went through full DRB review. Commissioner questions addressed flexibility for applicants, staff workload, and notification of residents versus property owners. The commission took no action; the public hearing on the actual code amendments will be held on December 11, 2025.

Public Hearing: 2025 Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Zoning Map Amendment (File No. CAM25-00770)

  • Senior Planner Lindsay Levine presented the package:
    • Zoning Map Amendment: Rezone a city-owned parcel (donated for park use, adjacent to Rose Hill Park) from RSX 7.2 (low-density residential) to Park/Open Space. The land use designation will also be corrected for both the new parcel and Rose Hill Meadows Park (previously inadvertently changed to Transit-Oriented Development).
    • Comprehensive Plan Amendments:
      • Land Use Element: Added a policy to reduce wildfire risks (requested by the Washington Department of Commerce).
      • Utilities Element: Updated water supply contract information for Cascade Water Alliance and narrative text reflecting the county's siting decision for the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station (the city has appealed the decision).
      • Transportation Element: Updated references to maps and tables.
      • Capital Facilities Element: Updated project lists and costs.
      • Minor corrections to the History of Kirkland appendix.
  • No public comments were received before the hearing. After Liz Hunt's testimony, the hearing was closed.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion 1: To recommend approval of the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Moved by Aaron Jacobson, seconded by Scott Reusser. Passed 6-0 (all commissioners present in favor).
  • Motion 2: To recommend approval of the rezone of the city-owned property to Park/Open Space. Moved by Aaron Jacobson, seconded by Gina Madeya. Passed 6-0.
  • The commission's recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council for adoption on December 9, 2025.
  • Special Officer Election: Chair Rutherford proposed a special election for a new vice chair to allow for a smoother transition before Vice Chair Rozmyn's term expires in March 2026. The commission discussed the process and will consider the election at the next meeting.

Administrative Reports and Planning Commission Discussion

  • Calendar Update: The second November meeting is canceled. The next meeting is December 11, 2025, which will include a public hearing on the design regulation amendments. The second December meeting is also canceled.
  • Council Updates: Staff reported that the City Council will address several planning items at upcoming meetings, including the Juanita rezone (Michaels and Goodwill sites), the Houghton Village Development Plan, and the critical area ordinance update. The commission's recommendations on the comprehensive plan amendments and rezone will be considered on December 9.
  • Work Program Discussion: Commissioner Jacobson asked about the planning work program update for next year; staff indicated it will likely be discussed with the City Council in February 2026.

Meeting Transcript

This meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission is called to order. Let's start with a roll call. Margaret Bunall. Aaron Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Julia Nolan. Here. Scott Racer. Here. Angela Rasman is absent. Rodney Rutherford. Here. And with the majority of commissioners present, we have a quorum and may conduct business. The next item on the agenda is comments from the audience. This is the portion of the meeting where we will hear from the public about items that are not scheduled for public hearing. Tonight's public hearing is about amendments to the 2025 annual comprehensive plan and zoning map. If you would like to address the commission at this time, not about the public hearing, please raise your hand. If you are online, click the raise hand button. And uh and uh if you are in the audience, I have one person who has signed in and may uh uh come to the mic after I give this uh guidance. Uh in order to hear from as many people tonight, we're allowing any individual wishing to provide comments to speak for a maximum of three minutes. On the timer is a lecturer or on the timer of the lecture, it'll flash uh 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 the comments and instead provide a comment or perspective that is unique to you. In making your comment, we ask that you direct them to the commission. This is not a time for give and take with the commission. Obscene, profane, threatening, or harassing or abusive language toward the commission, city staff, or those in the audience are not allowed. As audience members, please refrain from any demonstrative agreement or disagreement with the speaker, such as clapping and 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. So we'll begin's items in the audience with a list of people who are in here in person who have signed up to speak. Uh and so when I call your name, uh please approach the dais to address us. Um Lisa Berenson. Hi, I'm Lisa Baronson, and I was at the last meeting. And I'm sure you're probably gonna cover this later. But um I just wanted to make this one comment, and I don't know if it's applicable considering this is the planning commission versus the city council. But it was raised about um public safety and reducing speed limits. And um basically with lowering the speed limits to 20 and to 30 in our neck of the woods. Um I drive a lot to Redmond, Bothell, Kenmore, and Bellevue. And they have not lowered their speed limits. And actually, when I was driving to work the other day, I noticed that part of Redmond had a 40 mile an hour speed limit on one of their main artilleries that takes you right through the border of Kirkland to uh Redmond. And what I have also noticed is that there's a huge problem between the transition between Kirkland and Kenmore and Bothell. And um I did agree with what one of the other Cit City Council members said that we need more science, even if the posted speed limits are not reduced, there are not enough signs in Kirkland about the speed limits, especially where we abut our neighbors. Um other comment. Noise that is affecting neighbors negatively. I strongly recommend we need one of those signs on Waine to Drive, because still too much drag racing, too much loud traffic noise after 10 p.m. at night. People can still hear it through their homes that are on both sides of Wanita Drive, and that is primarily residences. So I just wanted to put that in there.

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