The Kirkland City Council unanimously approved the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center be removed from the 2012-2014 Planning Work Program on Oct. 16.

The council “felt it best” to complete the required 10-year update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan before conducting planning on the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center Plan. Several Everest and Central Houghton neighborhood residents expressed the need for more time for the process.

Plenty of community engagement and neighborhood planning will be available during the Comprehensive Plan update and it is scheduled to begin the first quarter of 2013.

“It is worth noting that the council’s action did not enact a moratorium on development in the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center,” an update on the issue stated. “Also, there has been no development proposal within this Neighborhood Center submitted to the city as of this update.”

The Planning Work Program was developed by the Planning and Community Development Department with the Planning Commission.

The 2012-14 Work Program was approved by the council in May and called for completion of an update to the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center Plan by the end of 2012, followed by the adoption of the zoning regulations and design guidelines by the end of March 2013.

Residents in the community had a strong concern about current traffic conditions and the impact future development may have on traffic. As a result, staff from the Public Works Department will be conducting field inspections and speaking with the leadership from the Houghton and Everest neighborhood associations.

The city will be developing educational materials and activities that will help residents understand the state’s Growth Management Act that was enacted by the Legislature in response to rapid population growth and concerns with suburban sprawl, environmental protection, quality of life and related issues. More details on that will be available in early 2013.

Questions and concerns should be directed to Angela Ruggeri at 425-587-3256 or agruggeri@kirklandwa.gov.