The Kirkland Planning Commission will finalize its recommendations to the Kirkland City Council on proposed zoning changes in the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center (HENC) at its May 11 meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Kirkland City Hall.
The commission previously discussed the HENC at a meeting earlier this month, more or less going along with the recommendation proposed by the Houghton Community Council to recommend zoning language with minimal changes to what is already in place.
Three options for HENC zoning have been presented by city staff: The “Preservation” scenario, which would keep in place existing zoning and development standards at 30 feet (one to two stories); the “Modest Change” scenario, which would allow an increase in building height from 30 feet to 35 feet (three stories); and the “Greater Change” scenario, which would allow a base height of 35 feet with the potential to increase up to 55 feet in specific areas based on meeting incentives for public benefits (three to five stories).
The Houghton Community Council indicated a desire to allow up to three stories, with rigorous design standards for any developments in the area.
The issue of the proposed zoning code amendments has been very contentious between area residents, who have spoken out against taller buildings, and commercial property owners and businesses, who have voiced support for more height in the neighborhood center.
Last month, it was standing room only in the council chambers at Kirkland City Hall as the planning commission and the Houghton Community Council held a joint public hearing to hear from community stakeholders on the issue.
City staff is preparing the final language of the planning commission’s recommendations based on the conversation at the April 13 planning commission meeting. Most of the commissioners agreed, based on the outpouring of negative community input, that the HENC shouldn’t go above three stories.
“We heard loud and clear,” Commission Chair Eric Laliberte said.
“This is at least three times the feedback I’ve gotten on any issue,” Commissioner Glenn Peterson added.
Commission Vice Chair Colleen Cullen said having more than three stories is not needed “in this location at this time.”
Commissioner Mike Miller was the only one who indicated a desire to go all the way up to five stories, while Commissioner Sandeep Singhal said he was willing to look into four stories.
“We have an obligation here to create a housing center … especially if it’s pedestrian-oriented,” Singhal, who participated in the meeting over the phone, said.
The Kirkland City Council is scheduled make the final decision on any HENC zoning changes at its June 6 meeting.
For more information about the possible HENC zoning changes, visit kirklandwa.gov/HE6th.
Other developments
Meanwhile, other developments in Kirkland, including Kirkland Urban and the Village at Totem Lake, are moving right along. (Updates on the Kirkland Urban, Potala Village and Totem Lake projects have been recently published in the Reporter and can be found at kirklandreporter.com.)
Eric Shields, planning director for the City of Kirkland, recently gave the Reporter an update on a variety of development projects.
The Village at Totem Lake project is one of many in the works in the Totem Lake neighborhood.
At the southeast corner of NE 128th Street and Totem Lake Boulevard, in two buildings currently occupied by medical offices, a project that would redevelop the buildings to become multi-family housing, known as Lanar, is going through the design review process.
“It just got approval,” Shields said, adding the project still needs to apply for building permits.
Skymania Trampolines closed earlier this month because the building the business leased, at 11801 NE 116th St., is going to be demolished to make way for a Quadrant Homes development in the area.
“They’re getting ready to build as soon as they possibly can,” Shields said, adding the developers are working with adjacent property owners to assure access is available.
Nearby, a large multi-family development, known as the Wolff development, is also in the planning stages. It is across from the Kirkland Justice Center, which is located at 11750 NE 118th St.
A road to handle traffic created by the Quadrant Homes and Wolff developments is planned on the north side of 116th Street, Shields said.
“There’s a partially built road off of 118th that needs to be completed,” he said, adding public works is working with property owners on alignment of the road.
Further west, in Juanita, the city council recently authorized a study looking into the possibility of making zoning changes to the property currently occupied by Michael’s, at 9755 NE Juanita Dr. The property owner is interested in the idea of a taller building, possibly with mixed uses, Shields said.
Looking south, at the intersection of Market Street and 11th Avenue, the Dibble Office Building recently went through the design review and hearing examiner process to add a foot and a half of height to the building.
Back in the Houghton neighborhood, Northwest University is developing a new campus master plan, which will be subject to a public hearing process, Shields said.
“There’s lots of comments, lots of concerns about the expansion of the university,” he said.
More information about these and other projects of interest can be found on the city’s website at kirklandwa.gov/depart/planning/Development_Info/projects.htm.
