Houghton Neighborhood Plan Update

CITY COUNCIL ACTION:

Following a recommendation of approval from the Houghton Community Council and Planning Commission, the City Council held a study session on the neighborhood plan and code amendments on September 20, 2011. The proposed neighborhood plan and code amendments were contained in the agenda packet for that study session. To view the study session meeting click on this: September 20 City Council Study Session.

The City Council passed the amendments at their regular meeting on November 15, 2011. The changes include a new Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan.

A Municipal Code amendment allowing smaller lot single family infill development was also passed.

The neighborhood contains some areas with non-conforming densities. Citywide regulations for non-conforming densities will be reviewed in 2012.

Following City Council action, the Houghton Community Council took their final action on November 28^th, 2011.

Public Hearings and Recommendation

On Thursday, June 23, 2011 there was a joint public hearing before the Planning Commission and the Houghton Community Council. The hearing was conducted to provide an opportunity for public comment on the draft Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan section of the Comprehensive Plan and related proposed Municipal Code amendments. The record was left open for written comment through Friday, 8/5/2011 at 5:00 pm.

Both the Houghton Community Council (on August 22, 2011) and the Planning Commission (on August 25, 2011)recommended approval of the plan.

Contact:
Angela Ruggeri, Project Planner
aruggeri@kirklandwa.gov
p. 425 587-3256
f. 425-587-3232

Kirkland Planning Dept.
123 5th Avenue
Kirkland, WA 98033

Meeting Schedule & Topics
Click on topic link to view meeting notes

DATES	TOPICS
January 26, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Introduction, Visioning - Meeting Packet - Meeting notes
February 23, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Environment, Parks, Schools, Historic Places - Meeting Packet - Meeting notes
March 9, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Environment & Schools (cont.) - Meeting notes
March 30, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Land Use, Housing, Commercial Areas - Meeting Packet - Housing presentation - South Kirkland Park & Ride presentation - Meeting notes
April 12, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Land Use, Housing, Commercial Areas (cont.) - Meeting notes Maps - Lots with further subdivision potential - Small single-family option for undersized lots in the RS 8.5 zone - Existing non-conforming density in multi-family zones
April 27, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Land Use, Transit Oriented Development - Meeting packet - Meeting notes
May 25, 2010	CH Advisory Group: Transportation - Meeting Packet - Meeting notes
June 22, 2010 6:30 p.m. Peter Kirk Room	CH Advisory Group: Review and comment on concept policies - Memo - Meeting notes
June 29, 2010 7 p.m. Peter Kirk Room	CH Advisory Group: Review and comment on concept policies - Meeting notes
July 26, 2010 7 p.m. Peter Kirk Room	HCC and PC joint meeting to receive Central Houghton (CH) Advisory Group recommendation on CH plan update
September 13, 2010 7 p.m. Council Chambers	HCC review and comment on Vision Statement and Historic Context section of CH plan update
October 12, 2010 7 p.m. Council Chambers	HCC review and comment on Vision Statement, Historic Context Section & Land Use Section
November 22, 2010 7 p.m. Council Chambers	HCC review and comment on Vision Statement, Historic Context Section, and Land Use Section
March 28, 2011 7 p.m. Council Chambers	HCC review and comment on additional sections of the Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan
April 25, 2011 6 p.m. Early Start Council Chambers	Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan - Review proposed Open Space, Parks Element and Transportation Element
May 23, 2011 (HCC) 7 p.m. Council Chambers	Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan
May 26, 2011 (PC) 7 p.m. Council Chambers	Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan
June 8, 2011 7:00pm Peter Kirk Room	Central Houghton Advisory Group Review of draft Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan
Jun 23, 2011 5:00pm and 7:00pm (PC & HCC) Council Chambers	Open House from 5:00 to 7:00pm and PC/HCC Joint Public Hearing at 7:00pm on draft Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan
August 22, 2011 (HCC) 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers	Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan deliberations
August 25, 2011 (PC) 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers	Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan deliberations

Advisory Group

The Central Houghton Advisory Group was formed to study topics and discuss a future vision for the Central Houghton Neighborhood. The Advisory Group met from January through June 2010.

Meetings were open to the public. View the Advisory Group Members.

Open House

On October 29, 2009, a public open house was held to introduce the Lakeview and Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan update process. Residents, business owners, and representatives from educational facilities participated in a unique exercise known as the World Cafe that involved simultaneous group conversations about the future land use, transportation, housing, and retail features and 10 to 20 year vision for each neighborhood. To see the questions asked and the participants responses, please click here.

Background

The City of Kirkland began working with residents within the Central Houghton Neighborhood to update the neighborhood plan chapter of the Comprehensive Plan in the fall of 2009. The current Central Houghton Neighborhood Plan was last updated in 1985. Neighborhood plans set forth the future vision and growth goals and policies related to land use, housing, transportation, and natural environment issues unique to the neighborhood and within the context of the citywide general goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and State Growth Management Act requirements.

Neighborhood Plan Update Objectives

Develop a neighborhood vision statement, new goals, and policies
Implement new policies with Zoning Code amendments
Encourage and provide opportunities for residents to actively engage and take ownership in the process
Conduct a reasonably fast update process that allows for public input but will not hold up other neighborhood plan update projects
Combine private amendment requests with the study issues so that they do not dominate the plan amendment process

PROJECT SCHEDULE
Updated October 21, 2011- Dates are subject to change

COMPLETED	DATE	ITEM
X	September & October 2009	PC & HCC meeting to approve update process
X	October 29, 2009	Public open house for both Neighborhoods
X	November 2009	Advisory Groups formed
X	December 8 & 9, 2009	Neighborhood U meetings (2) for Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods
X	January - June 2010	Advisory Group meetings by topic
X	July 26, 2010	Joint PC & HCC study session to review Advisory Group recommendations
X	September 13, 2010	HCC review of Vision Statement & Historic Context Section of CH plan
X	October 12, 2010	HCC continues plan update review
X	November 22, 2010	HCC continues plan update review
X	March 28, 2011	HCC continues plan update review
X	April 13, 2011	Parks Board reviews Open Space & Park section of the CH plan
X	April 27, 2011	Transportation Commission reviews the Transportation section of the CH plan
X	April 25, 2011	HCC provides direction on draft plan
X	May 23, 2011	HCC provides direction on draft plan
X	May 26, 2011	PC provides direction on draft plan
X	June 8, 2011	CH Advisory Group reviews draft plan
X	June 15, 2011	SEPA Addendum for CH plan
X	June 23, 2011	Public Open House & HCC/PC joint public hearing on CH plan update
X	October 2011	CTED 60 day review of CH draft plan
X	August 25, 2011	PC recommendation to CC on plan
X	August 22, 2011	HCC recommendation to CC on plan
X	September 20, 2011	CC study session on plan update
X	November 15, 2011	CC final action on plan update
X	November 28, 2011	HCC final action on plan update

HCC = Houghton Community Council
PC = Planning Commission
CC = City Council
CH = Central Houghton

Process Overview - View process overview graphic