Kirkland councilors back Planning Commission plan to allow townhomes in North Juanita with safeguards

Kirkland City Council members on Tuesday signaled support for a Planning Commission recommendation that would permit townhomes in part of the BC1 (North Juanita commercial/neighborhood center) study area while keeping the eastern portion reserved for denser, mixed‑use development. The Planning Commission’s preferred option would allow townhomes as an independent use but geographically limit them to the western half of the site and establish a geographic buffer along 100th Avenue NE.

Why it matters: The discussion stems from a multi‑year neighborhood‑center planning effort and the city’s housing goals in its comprehensive plan. Councilors said they want to avoid losing commercial frontage along 100th Avenue NE while also enabling infill housing in a market that commissioners and property owners say is financially uncertain for large stacked multifamily projects.

Planning staff outlined three options for townhomes: keep the existing prohibition; permit townhomes only within mixed‑use projects; or permit townhomes as a standalone use limited to the western half of the site — the latter being the Planning Commission’s recommendation. The Planning Commission added a 200‑foot buffer…