Kirkland to Hold Public Meetings on Zoning, Code Amendments

The public is invited to attend either of two upcoming meetings regarding zoning and municipal code amendment studies.

The City of Kirkland is now studying various City wide miscellaneous amendments to the Zoning and Municipal Codes. Based on an ongoing list of issues, code interpretations, requests from the public and from the Kirkland City Council and needs identified by staff, proposed amendments are periodically forwarded to the Kirkland Planning Commission and the Houghton Community Council for their consideration. The following list highlights some of the issues being considered:

• o  Reduce setbacks for schools/daycares in residential zones
• o  Allow clustering of undisturbed areas in Holmes Point Overlay Zone subdivisions
• o  Simplify garage setback requirements
• o  Allow rounding of units when calculating density in low density zones
• o  Clarify process to amend the Zoning Code
• o  Clarify relationship between Comprehensive Plan goals and policies and development regulations
• o  Reduce process for Zoning permit decisions, where possible
• o  Revise common recreational open space requirements for multi-family development
• o  Reduce existing limits on height and width of non-residential uses adjoining low density zones

Study sessions are scheduled for the Houghton Community Council on Monday, June 24 and the Planning Commission onThursday, June 27, 2013. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Kirkland City Hall Council Chambers, at 123 5th Avenue. The meetings are open to the public. The staff memo for the Houghton Community Council meeting is available now. The staff memo for the Planning Commission meeting will be available on Thursday June 20, after 5 p.m.