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.

2025 UPDATE - The City Council has approved further study of the following requests through the adoption of the Juanita Neighborhood Plan. See project webpages linked below for details:

JBD 4 Zoning Code Amendments (Michael's CAR)

North Juanita Center Zoning Code Amendments (Goodwill CAR)

CARs Currently in Review

The below applications have completed Phase I review and are pending next steps.

Par Mac 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.

Update: With adoption of the 2044 Comprehensive Plan in December 2024, City Council adopted a new policy in the Totem Lake Business District Plan(PDF, 6MB) , Policy TL-33.1, that directs the City to prepare a subarea plan for the entire Totem Lake Southern Industrial Area (which includes the Par Mac parcels) to consider a new mixed-use neighborhood, including consideration of potential capacity increases. In early 2025, the Planning Commission and City Council will be discussing the 2025-2027 Planning Work Program, which will determine the priority level and approximate timing for work on the subarea plan to begin. Per the adopted Comprehensive Plan policy, a subarea plan is a prerequisite for any capacity increases on the Par Mac parcels and within the larger Southern Industrial Area.

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

Michael's CAR Request (File No. CAM20-00676(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.

Update: Comprehensive Plan amendments were adopted in December 2024 through the updated Juanita Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 4MB) to support the study of additional capacity allowances in the entire JBD 4 zone through new policy J-16. Amendments to zoning standards and design guidelines for the study area are currently being reviewed. See project webpage for details.

Note: The 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

Goodwill CAR Request (File No. CAM24-00910) - Juanita

Request: Amendments to the Kirkland Zoning Code (KZC) 35.30.020 and/or the zoning designation of the subject property to increase the maximum allowed height from 35 feet to 75 feet, and density allowances to accommodate approximately 500 - 600 residential units and 10,000 - 15,000 square feet of commercial/retail space.

Update: Comprehensive Plan amendments were adopted in December 2024 through the updated Juanita Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 4MB) to support the study of additional capacity allowances in the study area through new policy J-20. Amendments to zoning standards and design guidelines for the study area are currently being reviewed. See project webpage for details.

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

Recently Reviewed CARs

Community-Initiated Amendment Requests 2023-2024

Phase II review is complete for the below application.

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.

Decision: City Council approved the request and adopted Ordinance O-4881 at their September 3, 2024 meeting.

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

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 and Par Mac CARs

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

Note: Visit the Michael's CAR and Goodwill CAR project webpages to view 2025 staff memorandums.

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 were due on December 30, 2024 at 4:00 PM (the next round of CAR applications will open in 2026).

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

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

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