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

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.