[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6278238,"mediaKeyId","2641677-d87129d209c5a51412dbe52214979af9","parentId",2641677,"title","Planning Commission studies Juanita zoning code amendments; staff to return with code options for two site proposals","audioSeconds",5407,"startMs",2878000,"endMs",8285000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2641677-d87129d209c5a51412dbe52214979af9&start=2878&end=8285","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2641677-d87129d209c5a51412dbe52214979af9/thumbnail_2878000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278238/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Planning-Commission-studies-Juanita-zoning-code-amendments-staff-to-return-with-code-options-for-two-site-proposals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278238-9bb5087f61cf7b7780fe1ab76d9e1410/orig.mp4?Expires=1770413026&Signature=Ak~VesnA56sl8EXbqjmLG5m5G22HYcYQsSlKtsFRyQ3vupcN98X1RwGwDLjIA-qW7sqxko8fF8yoKRxpj9abJgPFhXDmZWV5hm1XVnRNss1ird4spOJfKHDPAhJEBUhy0~hW9zVEpRt0YEzA~CRirjmS7USa08ENALm2wrGJ3YayBVWbssqjlNSLRMeF4W5TRVv9zSJ-d8U~KWiI1nj9G0EYFO-RLqeRgZFxmkDIGoE~qpB3s3N3ERNlzFcASWWX25tLHh~-iNMIVtBeWlSk1MnEY2aioGnWpmP3ADtIUZGqkRsB7ksl-W-pseiHzMmw5CEDsgoxoraxrDbI10nuYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kirkland City, WA","date","2025-03-15T00:54:40.117Z","article","The Planning Commission held an extended study session March 13 on zoning code amendments tied to the Juanita neighborhood plan and two community‑initiated requests: the Goodwill site (three aggregated parcels in North Juanita / BC‑1 study area) and the Michaels/Michael site in the JBD‑4 zone.

Senior planner Leandra Baker Lewis summarized staff's recommended approach and background, noting both requests were included in the city's comprehensive plan modeling. For the Goodwill site staff described a 4.2‑acre combined parcel where the applicant has proposed higher density (staff cited a developer estimate of 500–600 residential units across conceptual scenarios and 10,000–15,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail) and a requested height up to roughly 70–75 feet. For the Michaels site (a constrained parcel affected by a critical area/wetland and buffers) staff said applicants and modeling have varied over time but noted a figure of about 170 units on the Michaels parcel and that earlier modeling had assumed up to 300 units across the JBD‑4 study area to be conservative for transportation and capacity analyses.

Leandra told commissioners that park‑and‑street‑level transitions, upper‑story stepbacks, façade widths and design review would be important tools to address community concerns about massing. She also noted the Park zone standards are set case‑by‑case by the parks director and that the Goodwill/BC‑1 study could require additional SEPA analysis if the study area is expanded beyond the three‑parcel site.

Applicants and representatives gave brief remarks during public comment on the rezoning and the zoning code amendment process. Alison Warner, representing Balboa Retail Partners (owner of the Goodwill property), said the owner supports the Juanita zoning code amendment and asked that staff consider allowing their site to proceed separately or in parallel with a broader BC‑1 study. Jessica Rowe of McCullough Hill, representing the Michaels site owner, repeated the team's request for increased height (initially 70 feet, she said the present development plans may now seek 75 feet) and asked the commission to consider reductions to parking requirements (Rowe mentioned an example of 5.5 spaces per unit as a study suggestion).

Commissioners raised several recurring concerns and areas for staff follow‑up: traffic and access at the Michaels site given its constrained location at a busy intersection; the impacts of parking minimums and the risk of induced demand; how critical area/wetland buffers reduce buildable area on the Michaels parcel; how new units would affect school capacity (staff reported preliminary discussions with Lake Washington School District staff showed the district had reviewed the numbers used in the comprehensive plan and that apartment development typically generates far fewer school‑age children per unit than single‑family homes); and visual massing and view impacts at the Goodwill site where adjacent residential lots sit on higher grade.

Commissioners debated scope and timing. Several commissioners supported focusing now on the two community‑initiated amendment requests and moving toward a tighter timeline (staff said they could bring back a first draft of code options and a \"high/low\" menu of choices at the April 24 study session). Other commissioners urged caution and more public engagement on detailed development standards (setbacks, massing transitions, parking rules) and said they did not want to \"short‑circuit\" neighborhood input. Staff described ongoing outreach (meetings with Juanita Neighborhood Association, Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods and Fin Hill Neighborhood Alliance, postcards and social media) and said they would present a clearer set of draft code options at the next study session.

On next steps staff said they will prepare zoning code amendment options (high/low ranges for the principal policy choices), pursue targeted outreach, and bring draft code and illustrations back to the commission at the April 24 study session. The commission discussed but did not take a formal vote; staff will also brief the City Council in May and could be asked to include a broader BC‑1 neighborhood center study on the work program if the commission and council choose to pursue that later.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kirkland Planning Commission Meeting March 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning commissioners heard staff and applicant presentations March 13 and gave direction for staff to return with draft zoning code options (a high/low menu) for two Juanita neighborhood amendment requests: the Goodwill (North Juanita/BC‑1) site and the Michaels site in the JBD‑4 zone.","taxTitle","Kirkland, King County, Washington","taxId",2569,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278242,"Kirkland Planning Commission approves rezoning of former Houghton Park-and‑Ride and Fin Hill parcels to park zone",728,2124000,2852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2641677-d87129d209c5a51412dbe52214979af9&start=2124&end=2852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2641677-d87129d209c5a51412dbe52214979af9/thumbnail_2124000.jpg","/articles/6278242/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Kirkland-Planning-Commission-approves-rezoning-of-former-Houghton-Park-andRide-and-Fin-Hill-parcels-to-park-zone","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278242-f60cba5a21e9ac717d972ddfb82cd616/orig.mp4?Expires=1770413026&Signature=d5srlzayLUhcq1SZJXuN81grURJpOqPzsqJ0LrwS6vRIUajTmgNVOwWMu8e1LD39ZaRTpi92Ceqe~UyglQiB-p~8HZtojznMVlLWqVQN1xH4TWkL6fNyHydfwU7~hkrunLWZCC4G4umGu-8PpVCxciTIw~nZ7q3w4CnS8LQgB~uhXxxMc1UN7OJuxx7SG~0M5SZdBu0xNI~03asc~-kjS-by~FdFEGi20LkKrkH9e1AAlnwtJa9nzOjQmyc6lbHVCm2ya~qi5fp6fihAmsf~PqPcexcR024RdimBhdu-lVklLBtmbuHmrLrFibAzOFuBftx7nqMgGKXXlXQOwLP-lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Kirkland Planning Commission voted unanimously March 13 to recommend rezoning two city‑owned properties — the former Houghton Park‑and‑Ride and five parcels on Finn (Fin) Hill — from low‑density residential to Park zone.

The rezones change the zoning map; staff said the Park zone allows the parks director to set site‑specific development standards so each park can be planned case‑by‑case. \"The city bought this property back in 2023 and intended for it to become a community aquatic center,\" senior planner Lindsay Levine told commissioners, noting the land use designation was changed to transit‑oriented development, or TOD, in 2023 to provide flexibility for future uses.

The commission opened a public hearing and heard brief testimony in support. Scott Morris, representing the Fin Hill Neighborhood Alliance, thanked the city for acquiring the Finn Hill parcels and said the Alliance hopes they will be incorporated into the Finn Hill Green Loop. Alison Warner, of Balboa Retail Partners, and Jessica Rowe of McCullough Hill, representing property owners in the Juanita area, also spoke about related neighborhood planning and redevelopment expectations but said their remarks were focused on separate zoning code amendment work for the Juanita neighborhood.

Staff described the Houghton site as currently used as a temporary park known as \"Hopin Park and Play.\" Levine said the Seattle Kraken's separate ice‑plex proposal is an independent matter; \"that project ... is separate from this proposed rezone,\" she said, and council will separately evaluate that proposal. Staff also told commissioners the north portion of the Houghton property is encumbered by an easement held by the Washington State Department of Transportation; while staff said they are confident it could be released in the future, the easement currently prevents permanent construction in the northern area.

For the Fin Hill parcels staff said the city purchased the five forested parcels last year and would add them to Juanita Heights Park. Levine said staff received about 20 emails supporting the Fin Hill rezone and none about the Houghton rezone. If the Planning Commission recommendation is forwarded and approved by council, staff said they expect council adoption in late April or early May.

The motion on the floor — \"take staff's recommendation regarding the rezoning\" — was moved and seconded during deliberations; the commission voted in favor with no recorded opposition. Chair Rodney Rutherford closed the hearing and the record for public testimony after the vote.

What this means now is the Planning Commission will forward its recommendation to the City Council, which will consider adoption. Any future specific park design, development standards or proposals (including the Kraken ice‑plex) would be evaluated separately under the Park zone rules, the parks director's determinations and applicable environmental and permitting processes such as SEPA.","Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning two city‑owned properties — the former Houghton Park‑and‑Ride and five Fin Hill parcels — from low‑density residential to Park zone; commissioners heard public testimony in support and staff said the rezonings align with recent land‑use planning and allow flexible park development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Commission studies Juanita zoning code amendments; staff to return with code options for two site proposals

Kirkland Planning Commission approves rezoning of former Houghton Park-and‑Ride and Fin Hill parcels to park zone