Economic Development
The Economic Development Element of the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan describes the public and private initiatives, goals, and policies that link community economic health with land use and growth policies, supports a sustainable, resilient, and environmentally friendly economy, supports expansion of a diversity of businesses, livable wage jobs, promotes a positive business climate and partnerships for education and job training. The Economic Development Element policies will be updated as part of the Comprehensive Plan update by the end of 2024.
About Economic Development
A healthy economy plays an important role in ensuring Kirkland remains a vibrant, sustainable, connected, and welcoming community for living and working. The purpose of the Economic Development Element is to establish the goals, policies, and priorities for our local economic growth and vitality within the East King County and Central Puget Sound regional economy.
The overarching economic strategy (established in 2015) for Kirkland strives to provide the following. With the update we will be revisiting this strategy to see if priorities should be updated for the future:
- A sustainable and resilient economy
- A diverse tax base
- Access to job opportunities
- Goods and services for the community
To accomplish this, the Economic Development Element:
- Encourages economic growth while maintaining attractive residential neighborhoods and a sustainable natural and built environment.
- Promotes a growing and diverse economy that has a variety of business sectors, living wage jobs, exports goods and services and encourages small, start up, locally owned companies.
- Promotes a positive business climate so businesses will grow and enhance Kirkland’s role in the Eastside and Puget Sound regional economy.
- Supports economic growth focused in the Totem Lake Urban Center, Downtown, and other commercial areas.
2044 Update: Economic Development Topics
Economic Development Topics & Study Issues
The primary challenge for the Economic Development Element update will be how to maintain a future local economy that provides access to affordable housing, transportation options, and job opportunities for people who want to live and work in Kirkland.
Community conversations about the Economic Development policy update include:
- Economic strategy - What should the City of Kirkland's role be in economic development?
- Equitable job opportunities - How can the City encourage equitable access to jobs and economic opportunities for small businesses for people who want to live and work in Kirkland can?
- Downtown and other commercial districts business retention - What strategies should the City of Kirkland pursue to discourage turnover and encourage longer-term thriving local businesses in commercial areas?
- Tourism and local events - How can the City leverage tourism and local events to support economic growth and community development?
- Economic resiliency - What actions can the City of Kirkland take to develop and implement systems that provide a financial safety net for the City during economic downturns and recovery?
- Diversity of businesses - How can the City of Kirkland create a more nurturing, business-supportive culture, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC); immigrant and refugee; LGBTQIA+; disabled; and women-owned businesses?
- Equitable investment - How can the City direct investments to community and economic development initiatives that elevate equitable economic opportunity for those communities most marginalized and impacted by disinvestment and economic disruptions?
Study Issues
In addition to the above questions, the following issues will be considered with the update of the Economic Development Element:
- Explore allowing small-scale commercial uses in residential neighborhoods (in tandem with Land Use Element);
- Enhance policies to support women and minority owned businesses and other diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging goals (incorporate Equity report by EcoNorthwest (2022) recommendations);
- Consider zoning changes to allow light manufacturing in Downtown. Allow for “maker” retail experiences which draw people to shop in person (jewelry making, coffee roasting, food production, open kitchens, brewing, distilling, etc.)
- Restructure vehicle parking requirements for retail, restaurants, and change of use to reduce required stalls (designate downtown as a “mall”; allow accessing public city lots after hours, the library lot, etc.);
- Study changing nature of home-based businesses and potential code amendments to support a variety of home-based businesses (2023-2025 Planning Work Program), including sidewalk facing businesses; and
- Study the future of the workforce (also applies to changes to housing, too much office space, online sales).
4 Result(s) Found
The Planning Commission recommended the draft Economic Development Element presented at the public hearing. See below.
Below are presentation slides from public meetings related to the Economic Development Element update. You can find any accompanying staff memorandums under the Economic Development Staff Memorandums tab.
In fall of 2023, staff conducted a number of community engagement efforts focused on Economic Development including two focus group meetings, attending the Youth Council and Senior Council meetings, conducting two surveys one general economic development and one focused on home businesses, media announcements, and personal outreach in several of the business districts. Below are summary reports and comments staff received.
For more information about the City's business services, see the business resources and tourism program webpages.
Below are memorandums prepared by staff for Planning Commission and/or City Council meetings. Accompanying presentations for each meeting can be found in the Presentations tab.