The Kirkland Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a package of miscellaneous code amendments that includes draft language increasing the partial lot-coverage exemption for artificial turf and forwarded the package to City Council for consideration on Sept. 16.

Staff told the commission the package implements several state law changes and local technical edits and that the turf change is the only item in the “miscellaneous” bucket that was council-directed. The draft code language shown to the commission would place artificial turf in a new category of 75% exempt materials so that only 25% of installed turf would count toward a site’s lot-coverage maximum; staff also placed a cross-reference reminding readers that tree code, the critical-areas ordinance, the Houghton Point overlay and shoreline rules still apply.

The change to turf drew three homeowner and industry speakers during public testimony who said enforcement has been uneven and that modern turf installations can be highly permeable. Attorney Steven Crane, representing homeowners Tim and Melissa Yeh, described an enforcement notice his clients received and said, “it seems kind of like a selective, targeting for, for whatever reason.” Tim Yeh told the commission the installation cost his family more than $130,000 and urged full exemption: “I respectfully urge you to exempt artificial turf 100% from lot coverage.” Alan Bennett, an installer with Grassland Synthetic Turf, described typical installation practices and said properly installed turf can infiltrate at rates “about 4 to 20 inches per hour.”

Other public commenters and a land-use attorney representing another homeowner suggested narrower fixes, including adding a de minimis allowance for backyard turf not visible from the street or refined code language to address small practical installations. Jessica Rowe, land-use counsel for the Reevey family, said the practical effect of the draft 75% exemption may be minimal for many lots and proposed either the staff language or a modest square-foot exemption to meet homeowners’ needs.

Staff reported it issued a SEPA addendum before the hearing that determined the amendments are consistent with prior SEPA analysis completed for the comprehensive plan and that stormwater regulations remain governed by the King County stormwater manual and the city’s environmental permits. Staff explained that lot coverage and stormwater serve different purposes: lot coverage is used locally to preserve softscape and landscaping on parcels, while stormwater rules regulate runoff and treatment.

Commissioners debated environmental trade-offs. Commissioner Nolan said online research shows concerns about heat-island effects, volatile organic compounds and microplastic runoff and asked that the city study product differences before giving blanket exemptions. Commissioner Rosman and others noted the apparent prevalence of turf in some neighborhoods and urged caution. Commission discussion mentioned that council had directed a quick change from a 50% exemption and also requested a longer-term study of turf as part of the city’s sustainability work program.

The commission’s formal action was to recommend adoption of the miscellaneous code amendments as drafted by staff, with an explicit note that artificial turf be studied in more depth in a future work program. The vote carried unanimously with five commissioners present. Staff told commissioners the package — including the turf language and several state-law implementation items — is tentatively scheduled for City Council consideration on Sept. 16.

What remains: staff will prepare the SEPA documentation and the final ordinance for council; the commission asked staff to return with more detailed research on turf permeability, heat-island effects and microplastics and to consult regional peers for consistency. Enforcement questions on existing installations will continue to be handled through the city’s code-enforcement process and were not decided by the commission tonight.