The Community Process
On May 14, 2007, Touchstone Corporation submitted a private amendment request (PAR) application to the Kirkland City Council to amend the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code/Zoning Map for the redevelopment of the existing Kirkland Parkplace property. The proposal includes up to 1.8 million square of office, retail and hotel space and approximately 3,500 parking stalls.
The amendment would allow
- A building height increase from 3-5 stories to 4-8 stories.
- A building setback reduction from 20 feet to zero feet on Central Way and 6th Street and, possibly, from 10 feet to 0 feet next to Peter Kirk Park with possible flexibility in other regulations such as lot coverage.
The PAR process has two steps
- The threshold determination by the City Council to decide whether to further consider the request.
- The study process for those requests to be considered further. The study process involves an environmental analysis to gauge impacts and suggest mitigation strategies, public hearings by the Planning Commission a recommendation from the Planning Commission to the City Council and a final decision by the City Council.
Decisions to date
- On July 17, 2007, the City Council made the decision to further consider the Parkplace PAR.
- The Council also passed a resolution which directed the Design Review Board (DRB) to play a role in advising the Planning Commission.
- The study of this proposal will be done in conjunction with the City’s annual amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.
Public Process Timeline
| May – September 2007 | Ongoing public meetings with numerous neighborhood groups, downtown property owners and condominium associations. |
| July 17, 2007 | City Council meeting on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment |
| August 23, 2007 | Planning Commission meeting to discuss the process for Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code amendments. |
| September 17, 2007 | Design Review Board meeting to discuss the DRB’s role in the Parkplace PAR process and to begin review of Touchstone’s proposal. |
| October 8, 2007 | Launch of the Web site www.envisionkirklandparkplace.com and mailing to inform the public of the Open House schedule. |
| October 25, 2007 | Planning Commission meeting to discuss process and initial proposal with the public. |
| October 29, 2007 | Open House hosted by Touchstone to solicit community feedback |
| November 29, 2007 | Planning Commission meeting. |
| December 3, 2007 | Design Review Board meeting. |
| December 10, 2007 | Open House hosted by Touchstone to solicit community feedback. |
| January 7, 2008 | Design Review Board meeting. |
| February 4, 2008 | Design Review Board meeting. |
| February 21, 2008 | Open House hosted by Touchstone to solicit community feedback. |
| March 27, 2008 | Planning Commission hearing on Draft EIS. |
| April 4, 2008 | Draft EIS issued |
| April 10, 2008 | Planning Commission hearing on comp plan/zoning. |
| April 10, 2008 | Planning Commission study session. |
| April 16, 2008 | EIS open house |
| April 24, 2008 | Planning Commission hearing on comp plan/zoning. |
| May 8, 2008 | Planning Commission hearing. |
| May 12, 2008 | End of Draft EIS comment period. |
| May 22, 2008 | Planning Commission deliberations PAO/comp plan/zoning. |
| May 29, 2008 | Planning Commission hearing. |
| June 12, 2008 | Planning Commission study session on preferred alternative. |
| June 17, 2008 | City Council Briefing |
| June 19, 2008 | End of EIS public comment period. |
| June 26, 2008 | Planning Commission briefing. |
| July 24, 2008 | Planning Commission study session on City's preferred alternative. |
| August 1, 2008 | Final EIS expected to be issued. |
| August 14, 2008 | Planning Commission hearing on City's preferred alternative. |
| September 2, 2008 | City Council study session. |
| September 16, 2008 | City Council adoption. |