June 28 Council Mtg Recap

City Council approved Phase 1 of the Station Area Plan

City Council approved Phase 1 of the SAP – the commercial areas near 405, including 250’ maximum at the Lee Johnson property.

Councilmembers said there was a lot of public comment, but all of the issues have been or are being addressed and this plan will be good for the City (paraphrasing).

Voting Yes (5): Mayor Penny Sweet, Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold, Councilmembers Kelli Curtis, Amy Falcone, and Neal Black.

Voting No: (1): Councilmember Toby Nixon (the new zoning is too prescriptive; infringes on the rights of property owners)

Absent (1): Councilmember Jon Pascal

NEXT STEPS:

On Monday, July 11, 2022 at 6 p.m., the Kirkland City Council will hold a public hearing on the development agreement being considered for Google's potential development of the Lee Johnson site. This is the community’s opportunity to provide testimony related to the development agreement to Council for their consideration. The meeting will be hybrid, and members of the public may provide testimony in-person or by logging in to the Zoom meeting. More information about how to attend the meeting, how to provide public comment at the meeting, and meeting materials will be available on the Council webpage prior to the meeting: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Council

Also on Monday, July 11, representatives from Google will be holding an Open House from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to provide more information about their proposal to the community prior to the public hearing. The Open House will be held in the north lobby of Kirkland City Hall.

Council received a presentation from Google about their proposal for the site at a special study session on July 6, 2022. A video recording of the meeting, including Google’s presentation, is available here: https://kirkland.granicus.com/player/clip/4629?view_id=54...



  • July 19th, Tuesday, 7:30 pm – City Council expects to approve the Google Development Agreement

  • September – target date for approval of Phase 2

    • Upzoning/rezoning and new form-based code in the rest of the Station Area, including:

      • 150’ in the Taco Time block on NE 85th St.

      • 125’ around NE 81st Circle (west of the Kirkland Cemetery)

      • 75’ at Lake WA High School

      • 30-60’ south of NE 85th St between Kirkland Urban and Kirkland Way

      • 45’ in the south end of Norkirk

      • And other changes in Rose Hill and south Highlands

    • Further discussion of the Incentive Zoning program (benefits to the city of >85’ buildings)