Kirkland 2044 Comprehensive Plan Update

The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires each city and county to periodically review and, if needed, revise its comprehensive plan and development regulations as part of a periodic review cycle every eight years. Kirkland must plan for our share of King County's growth targets for housing, affordable housing and employment. See links below to state, regional, and county webpages describing the requirements for the Comprehensive Plan update:

• The Department of Commerce GMA Update Resources will be used to determine minimum compliance for policy/regulatory updates under state laws;
• The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) periodic review requirements and the PSRC’s Vision 2050 Regional plan;
• The King County Countywide Planning Policies(PDF, 3MB)  (CPPs) adopted by December 2021 which address growth management issues in King County.

 Kirkland’s Growth Targets for Housing and Employment allocation of King County's growth targets are described below:

Source: 2021 King County Urban Growth Capacity Report (Buildable Lands Report) and King County Countywide Planning Policies

Kirkland’s Affordable Housing Targets

Consistent with the GMA, the King County Planning Policies establish that cities must plan for affordable housing based on a range of income levels. The intended outcome of achieving this target would be to eliminate the cost- burden of all households expected to be cost-burdened in 2044. Below are Kirkland's preliminary affordable housing targets to plan for by 2044:

The Kirkland Comprehensive Plan consists of three main sections:

General Elements (* indicates the element is required under Growth Management Act):

• Vision and Framework Goals
• Introduction and General
• Community Character (includes historic structures and places)
• Natural Environment
• Land Use*
• Housing*
• Economic Development
• Transportation*
• Parks, Recreation and Open Space
• Utilities*
• Public Services*
• Human Services
• Capital Facilities*
• Implementation

The Comprehensive Plan adopts by references Functional Plans that help implement the adopted policies described in the Capital Facilities Element such as the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS), the Surface Water Master Plan (SWMP), the Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) or the Transportation Master Plan (TMP; vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, transit system).

Key themes to be woven into the revised Comprehensive Plan Update Plan:

• Advance Social Justice, Equity, Inclusivity and Belonging initiatives- in the community engagement process and policies
• Sustainability- to address human health, climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental protection in policies
• Housing options for all and housing affordability- integrate into the Plan Regional Housing Strategy, Kirkland Housing Strategy Plan and Missing Middle Housing goals, new strategies to increase affordable housing options, implement code amendments to achieve housing goals
• Mobility Connections to Regional Transit System and Accessibility- improve mobility, accessibility, non-motorized pedestrian and bicycle connections to major transit hubs in the city, to I-405/NE 85th Street BRT/Stride Station and regional transit facilities
• Resiliency- ensure the community plans for future emergency/pandemic response resiliency, fiscal planning for future, and a thriving local economy
• Smart City Initiatives- develop a Smart City Master Plan (SCMP) to guide advancements in innovation, technology, and resilience in six areas: Transportation & Mobility, City Infrastructure, Digital Transformation, Built Environment, Community Engagement

The update process will be an opportunity to revisit the Vision Statement, Guiding Principles and policies to see if they are still relevant or need revising. The General Elements or chapters of the Comprehensive Plan contain policies that will be revised on a variety of topics will be updated including transportation, housing, land use.

A community engagement and visioning process will explore questions such as:

• how can we accommodate and plan for growth?
• how can we improve mobility around the city and to the region? how can we increase affordable housing opportunities?
• how can we become a more welcoming and inclusive community?
• how can we maintain and enhance our quality of life? 

Public comments received during the process, will be considered and incorporated into a draft vision statement, revised Comprehensive Plan and related code amendments. The Planning Commission will hold meetings and a public hearing on the draft Plan in 2024. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to City Council for a final decision on the amendments in mid 2024.

Community Engagement Plan
A community engagement plan is currently being developed. The goal is to deliver a meaningful and innovative community engagement process that 1) informs people about the K2044 plan; and 2) embodies the Council Goal for an “Inclusive and Equitable Community” by ensuring that all voices belong in this community conversation and will be heard. 

The engagement plan will incorporate recommendations from the draft Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging 5 Year Roadmap. The plan will engage community members underrepresented in civic life, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), youth, LGBTQIA , seniors, low income households, people experiencing homelessness, and immigrant communities including people facing language barriers.

Options for engagement will include in- person or virtual workshops, open houses, town halls, focus group stakeholder meetings, surveys, project webpage, interactive portal for comments, community events, and a virtual City Hall lobby. 

Here's how you can participate in planning for Kirkland's future for the next 20 years:

• Sign up for the K2044 Plan email list to receive updates
• Email your input to us at Janice Swenson, Senior Planner at jswenson@kirklandwa.gov
• Attend Planning Commission public meetings- No meetings are currently scheduled

The update process involves five key phases for 2022-2024 shown below. Community engagement opportunities will be provided throughout the process.  PBD-K2044-Comprehensive-Plan-Phases.pdf(PDF, 127KB)

Environmental Compliance (SEPA) EIS and Transportation Master Plan
For the K2044 Plan update an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will look at the broad city-wide analysis of potential impacts associated with amendments to the Plan or Zoning, various land use and transportation alternatives. The public is given an opportunity to help scope the EIS and comment on the draft EIS before finalized.

Revise Transportation Master Plan
A major part of the EIS will assess our transportation network (facilities, level of service, etc.) to be consistent with the land use plan at the appropriate funding and performance levels. The GMA requires that the Transportation Element be “consistent with and implements the land use element.” Consistency means that the transportation plan be sufficient in scope (projects, funding and level of service) to carry out the Land Use Element. Development of the Transportation Master Plan & Transportation Element will be guided by the Transportation Commission.

Consultant Services- Technical consulting services will be used to assist the City with the EIS and TMP. Planning and Public Works Department Transportation staff will coordinate with a consultant(s) to complete this work.

City Council 4-19-2022 presentation(PPTX, 645KB)

Planning Commission 4-28-2022 presentation(PPTX, 651KB)

Transportation Commission 7-27-2022 presentation(PPTX, 645KB)

April 28, 2022:  Planning Commission meeting K2044 Comprehensive Plan update overview

April 19, 2022:  City Council briefing on 2044 Comprehensive Plan update(PDF, 6MB)

July 27, 2022 TC Meeting Comprehensive Plan overview and TMP scope