Ever wondered what goes into keeping Kirkland the vibrant, green, and livable city? A big part of it involves protecting our natural environment, and that's exactly what the City of Kirkland's Planning and Building Department is actively working on.

During the Planning Commission meeting in May, members gathered to discuss a deep dive into the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Briefing. This study session aims to discuss proposed amendments to the City’s CAO, which are mandated by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) and must be completed by December 31, 2025. Failure to update the CAO could result in Kirkland being ineligible for State grants and loan programs and potential legal complications. The initial focus of this briefing is on updates related to wetlands and wetland buffers, with future sessions planned for fish and wildlife habitat areas (streams) and geologically hazardous areas. Staff has conducted an initial gap analysis and anticipates that significant revisions may not be needed to meet State requirements, but clarity and streamlined permitting are also goals.

Kirkland is actively engaged in updating its development standards to align with recent Washington State mandates concerning middle housing, accessory dwelling units, parking, and design review within its residential zones. These changes are driven by state legislation, notably the "missing middle" housing bill (E2SHB 1110) and the accessory dwelling units bill (EHB 1337), enacted to address the statewide housing affordability and availability crisis. The state's authority to impose such requirements stems from the Growth Management Act (GMA), which compels local governments to plan for housing accessible across all income levels.

The Planning Work Program (PWP) is a document prepared by the City of Kirkland that serves as a blueprint for the city's development over the next three years. It seeks to explore innovative solutions, including the potential for inclusionary zoning and the optimization of “middle housing”—a category that encompasses townhouses, duplexes, and other forms of multi-family dwellings.

The City of Kirkland must comply with new state housing mandates.

The initial focus is on achieving minimum compliance with these mandates.

Public engagement is a priority throughout the process.

A second briefing with draft code amendments will follow in February 2025.