If someone thinks the overall sentiment is different now, there is a process of Comprehensive Planning that will begin again in about a year. the purpose of this type of planning is to look a properties in totality rather than making “one off” spot changes that are done to facilitate a developer and may not have broad support.

If you are interested in higher densities then please join the density advocates when we do our next Comp Plan… Until changed by proper public outreach and intensive study and process, the CP is supposed to be followed… Not compromised!!!!

SRO – Single Room Occupancy Communal Units!!! DOWNTOWN KIRKLAND!!!

This change is occurring as we speak without public outreach or notice.

Again, there is already a developer and the process is being secretly
advanced. staff asked Council if the idea of this communal living
should be explored during the upcoming year’s work plan. Then one week
later staff already places this in the Planning Commission packet to
move forward as an amendment. It seems they were told that this is
something the City Council really supports!!!!! HELLO?????? They said
they were intrigued and would like to study it, they did not tell staff
to have the PC move it forward and get it done!!!!

This is communal living for downtown!!! 4,6 or 8 small bedroom units
are built to share common facilities like kitchen, etc. This will
require a new zoning designation for residential or commercial zoning
or a new definition of residential unit. This will make an extended
stay hotel look like a palace by contrast!!!!

AND WHERE IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF ZONING CHANGES – PUBLIC NOTICE.
FLAGRANT DISREGARD JUST GETS WORSE AND WORSE.

In a similar manner, the city council went ahead with the project despite complaints from neighbors. But more so, the city council went ahead with this project despite concerns of both the Central Houghton and Lakeview committees which were updating their neighborhood plans at the time. Neither group was enamored of the TOD but it became obvious as the update process dragged on that neither the City Council nor the Planning Department was going to take no for an answer. The City Council even voted to make changes to the zoning of Park and Ride property before the neighborhood plans were to be updated. 

It seems density is becoming a more and more attractive characteristic in projects before the council. But it seems that in these two cases is that it’s density in a one-off manner. The city council and staff would better serve Kirkland residents by thinking more systemically when it comes to these types of projects. It would be great to see developments like Potala Village or the South Kirkland TOD go into Totem Lake – a designated urban center under the Growth Management Act.  

Don’t worry a bit about me clogging up the streets with my car because I will have no reason to go anywhere. I will have little, if any, wall space so purchasing artwork downtown would be a waste. No real closet space for any of the cool looking clothes I hear they sell downtown… And I am not sure if I want to spend as much for a meal or fine wine as I do on my rent.

It makes no sense to have hard working citizens living on the waterfront. They are so often at their jobs or working at home and they don’t have nearly the amount of time to enjoy the beach as I do. I am committed to enjoying the beach 24/7.

This is also grossly exceeding density anyplace in whole city … even the central business district.

Ultra High pods of density coming soon to ANY property the Staff leads the Council to reclassify without public notice!!!

And don’t expect any new development to offer parking to non-residents. But they may have to CHARGE non-resident beach-goers to park in their empty spaces just to make mortgage payments on their empty overpriced rental units.

But wait! There might not BE any mortgage payments if enough investors pony up the money, investors who 1) can’t understand a prospectus or 2) just want to buy their way into the US on an EB-5 Visa -. See http://pathamerica.com/ .