Kirkland Planning Commission recommends middle‑housing code changes with graduated inclusionary fee and direction to align parking with new state law

KIRKLAND — The Kirkland Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended that the City Council adopt a package of code amendments intended to bring the city into compliance with recent Washington state housing laws and to expand “middle housing” options in residential zones.

The commission voted to send to council a draft that makes middle‑housing types an explicit option in residential zones, updates accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules, preserves existing parking standards outside major transit areas for now, and includes an inclusionary zoning option for low‑density single‑family lots that uses a graduated fee‑in‑lieu for larger new homes.

The amendments are intended to meet minimum state requirements, including changes to ADU rules and parking standards required under recently enacted state law. Scott Guder, senior planner, told the commission the packet breaks the proposal into three attachments: the middle‑housing code with a staff recommended affordable housing option (which retains the city’s existing affordable housing standards and defers new inclusionary requirements to a later phase); an alternative that would add an affordable housing requirement for low‑density zones; and a set of parking and housekeeping amendments. Guder said the city must adopt implementing code before June 30 to avoid the state model code taking effect locally.

Why it matters: The package changes how Kirkland counts and enables dwelling…