Community-Initiated Amendment Requests

Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Map or Zoning Code can be initiated by the public. These Community-Initiated Amendment Requests (CARs) may be made by an individual, property owner, neighborhood organization, or other group. New CAR applications are due on December 30th of each even year. Applications received are then reviewed by the City during the subsequent year.

The applications submitted during the 2023-2024 review cycle are currently being reviewed for Phase 2. See status of applications below.

Current CAR Applications

Phase II - Community-Initiated Amendment Requests 2023

The below applications have completed Phase 1 review, and have been selected by Council for Phase 2 review.

Alavi CAR Request (File No. CAM22-00845(PDF, 106KB)) - Market

Request: Remove a special zoning regulation in the MSC 1 zone that restricts commercial uses on subject property.

Update: Phase II review has been completed. The City Council adopted Ordinance O-4881 at their September 3, 2024 meeting. 

Project Planner: Lindsay Levine; llevine@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3268

 

ParMac CAR Request (File No. CAM22-00873(PDF, 129KB)) - Totem Lake

Request: Rezone multiple parcels in TL 10D zone to allow for mixed-use/high-density residential uses.

Project Planner: Scott Guter; sguter@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3247

 

Michael's CAR Request** (File No. CAM23-00554(PDF, 235KB)) - Juanita

Request: Comprehensive Plan and Kirkland Zoning Code (KZC) amendments increasing the allowed building height from 26 feet to 70 feet, elimination of the residential density restrictions of JBD 4 zone (KZC 52.27.070) to allow 170 residential units and 4,000-4,500 square feet of commercial space.

Note: Per the Planning Commission review of the original proposal, the study area for this proposal has been expanded, to include the parcel to the south and an estimated total housing capacity for 300 units across both parcels in the JBD 4 zone. Study area will not include parts of the JBD 4 zone within the Shoreline Management Area.

Project Planner: LeAndra Baker-Lewis; llewis@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3265

**Phase II review is occurring now because it was deferred from the previous CAR review cycle in order to occur with the Juanita Neighborhood Plan update.

Phase I - Community-Initiated Amendment Requests 2023

 

Weise CAR Request (File No. CAM22-00870)(PDF, 113KB) - Bridle Trails 

Request: Rezone one parcel from RSX 35 to RSX 7.2.

Project Planner: Lindsay Levine; llevine@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3268

 

Alavi CAR Request (File No. CAM22-00845(PDF, 106KB) ) - Market

Request: Remove a special zoning regulation in the MSC 1 zone that restricts commercial uses on subject property.

Project Planner: Lindsay Levine; llevine@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3268

 

ParMac CAR Request (File No. CAM22-00873(PDF, 129KB)) - Totem Lake

Request: Rezone multiple parcels in TL 10D zone to allow for mixed-use/high-density residential uses.

Project Planner: Scott Guter; sguter@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3247

Applying for a CAR

Process

Community-Initiated Amendment Requests (CARs) are reviewed through a two phase process.

Phase I - Threshold Review: Planning Commission reviews submittals and recommends to City Council which merit further consideration.  The City Council then determines which requests will advance for further review. 

Phase II - Final Decision: Planning Commission holds public hearing and makes a recommendation to the City Council.  The City Council considers the recommendation and makes the final decision on the request.

Neighbors and community members are encouraged to participate in both phases of the Community-Initiated Amendment Request process including sending comments to or addressing the Planning Commission, Houghton Community Council (where applicable) at public meetings and hearings, and City Council as the requests are considered. 

Community-Initiated Amendment Request Application

Schedule (dates are subject to change)

Phase I - Threshold Determination Process

Step 1: Community-Initiated Amendment Request Phase 1 applications due December 30, 2024 at 4:00 PM.

Step 2: Planning Commission review and recommendation to City Council February - March 2025

 Step 3: City Council decides which requests should be further reviewed and the timeframe for review April - May 2025

Phase II - Final Decision Process

Step 1: CAR Phase 2 applications submitted if City Council authorizes further review

Step 2: Planning Commission studies applications. For site specific CARs, the study area may be expanded to include additional properties

Step 3: Planning Commission hold public hearing and makes recommendation to City Council

Step 4: City Council makes final decision

Review Fees

CAR applications for property-specific map changes require the applicant to pay review fees, collected prior to each phase of review. There is no fee for requests for city-wide or neighborhood-wide policy changes.

  • Phase 1 Fee: $1,120.00
  • Phase 2 Fee: $11,200.00

Related Staff Memorandums

September 3, 2024 City Council Meeting packet(PDF, 2MB) - Alavi Community-Initiated Amendment Request (CAR) adoption

August 8, 2024 Planning Commission Hearing packet(PDF, 23MB) - Alavi CAR

July 11, 2024 Planning Commission Hearing packet(PDF, 35MB) - Par Mac CAR

May 23, 2024 Planning Commission Hearing packet(PDF, 42MB) - Par Mac CAR, Michael's CAR, Goodwill Request

April 11, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting packet(PDF, 1000KB) - Michael's CAR and Goodwill Request

January 25, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting packet(PDF, 2MB) - Michael's CAR and Goodwill Request

August 24, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting packet(PDF, 15MB) - Michael's CAR and Goodwill Request

July 18, 2023 City Council Meeting packet(PDF, 10MB) - Alavi, Weise, and Par Mac CARs

June 22, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting packet(PDF, 15MB) - Alavi, Weise, and Par Mac CARs

 

See the Juanita Neighborhood Plan update webpage for more information about the Michael's CAR and Goodwill Request.

A CAR may be submitted to amend any aspect of the Comprehensive Plan such as the land use map, the general elements, or a neighborhood plan. A CAR may also involve related amendments to the Zoning Map or the Zoning Code. In the case of a CAR where the applicant is not the property owner, the applicant must notify the property owner in writing of the request. 

Community-Initiated Amendment Requests that propose a significant change in use or in density, or a major policy change, are typically deferred for consideration to when the applicable neighborhood plan is updated or if a broader planning process (such as a periodic update the Comprehensive Plan) is needed.

Contact Us

Allison Zike, Deputy Planning and Building Director

azike@kirklandwa.gov

425-587-3259

 

 

Receive Email Updates

Subscribe to Email List

Back to top