The city of Kirkland recently published a comprehensive timeline for public hearings on Comprehensive Plan elements, including housing, land use, and transportation policies. See timeline below with embedded links to policies. MBAKS had previously submitted written comments and attended commission study sessions on housing to show support for several revised policies, including the following additions:

• Streamlining permit processes and making transparent to permit applicants expected permit review timelines.
• Reducing the cost of building housing by modifying development regulations, including reducing or eliminating minimum lot sizes, reducing or eliminating parking standards, simplifying design review process and design requirements, allowing for and providing pre-approved plans, undertaking administrative short plat approval, and modifying SEPA exemptions for infill development.
• Increasing residential capacity and housing choice in residential neighborhoods by exploring requirements including, but not limited to, requiring new detached dwelling units to be designed to accommodate future ADUs, setting residential intensity minimums, or establishing setback requirements to accommodate future on-site residential capacity.

MBAKS has largely been supportive of Kirkland’s policy choices to date. MBAKS will continue to monitor and engage in this process with councilmembers and commissioners while supplementing our written comments and oral testimony.

Public Hearing Schedule 

All Public Hearings are held at City Hall (123 5th Ave) during Kirkland Planning Commission meetings starting at 6:00 PM. Open Houses will be from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM prior to each meeting to provide an opportunity to speak with staff and ask questions. Visit the Planning Commission website for more information. 

• May 9th, 2024 
• Topics: Vision Statement & Guiding Principles; Parks, Recreation & Open Space; Economic Development
• May 23rd, 2024
• Topics: Land Use; Sustainability, Climate & Environment; Human Services; Neighborhood Plan updates; Community Amendment requests (CAR’s)
• June 27th, 2024
• Topics: Transportation; Capital Facilities; Utilities; Public Services; Implementation, Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
• September 26th, 2024 
• Topics: Housing; Appendices (Glossary, Historical Information, Housing Needs Assessment, Community Profile); Miscellaneous topics

For more information, visit the Kirkland 2044 webpage.

Please contact rbc@mbaks.com with any questions.