The Basics

The update process was an opportunity to revisit the policies in the existing Comprehensive Plan to see if they are still relevant, need revising per State, Regional, and County requirements. To help develop a Comprehensive Plan, the City engages the community to develop a shared vision for Kirkland based on common values, desires and goals. Using public meetings, hearings, surveys, focus groups and other tools to engage the community, and regulatory requirements city staff revises the policies and prepares briefings for the Planning Commission and city Boards and Commissions to consider. A draft plan is prepared based on the community’s vision, state and regional requirements such as Puget Sound Regional Council Vision 2050 multi-planning policies, and planning best practices, such as Smart Growth Principles, 10 Minute Neighborhoods, that promote growth in compact, walkable, urban centers to avoid sprawl.

See the timeline below that the Comprehensive Plan Update process followed.

The 2044 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies were updated with the following themes in mind:

The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) determines what is included in each Comprehensive Plan.

The Kirkland 2044 Comprehensive Plan covers many policy areas including:

• Revised Vision Statement and Guiding Principles for the year 2044
• Sustainability, Climate and Environment
• Land Use
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Transportation
• Parks, Recreation and Open Space
• Utilities
• Public Services
• Human Services
• Capital Facilities

Neighborhood Plans

There are 14 neighborhoods within Kirkland. Each neighborhood has its own Neighborhood Plan chapter within the City's Comprehensive Plan. In 2023-2024 the City worked with the Juanita Neighborhood and Kingsgate Neighborhood to update their plans. For all other neighborhood plans, there have been minor edits for consistency, streamlining, and equity. Text about history from each neighborhood was consolidated into a citywide History of Kirkland document is now included as Appendix C of the Comprehensive Plan.  

Each neighborhood plan addresses topics such as:

• Natural Environment
• Land Use
• Transportation (including pedestrian access and bicycle paths)
• Open Space and Parks
• Public Services and Facilities
• Urban Design

Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

November 2024 Update: The Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update is available below. The FSEIS responds to public comments received on the Draft SEIS issued on June 10, 2024, and provides clarifications to the environmental analysis contained in the Draft SEIS. The Final SEIS analyzes the same range of alternatives as the Draft SEIS for the 2044 Comprehensive Plan, bookended by: the Existing Plan Alternative (continuation of the current Kirkland 2035 Comprehensive Plan) and a Growth Alternative. Both alternatives plan for growth equal to Kirkland’s assigned growth targets for 2044 but provide different amounts of additional housing and jobs capacity beyond the assigned targets. Many alternatives exist between these two bookends, and in fact, the Planning Commission has recommended to City Council an alternative that shares characteristics of the Existing Plan Alternative and Growth Alternative, and that falls between the two bookends. 

View the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement document(PDF, 54MB)
View the Notice of Availability document(PDF, 404KB)

Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
On June 10, 2024, the City of Kirkland issued a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) evaluating proposed amendments as  part of the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Update. 

View the Notice of Availability document(PDF, 517KB) .
View the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement(PDF, 16MB) (SEIS) document.

A public comment period was held from June 10^th, 2024, to July 12, 2024 for people to submit comments on the draft SEIS. An open house and public hearing was held on June 27^th, 2024 for people to submit oral comments. Approximately 70 written comments were received. On October 18, 2023 the City issued a Determination of Significance and Scoping Notice(PDF, 334KB)  to allow people to submit comments on what should be evaluated in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update. The scoping period ended on November 17, 2023. View all the scoping comments(PDF, 3MB) that were received.

Comprehensive Plan Adoption - December 10, 2024 City Council Meeting Materials(PDF, 12MB) - Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

November 19, 2024 City Council Meeting Materials(PDF, 7MB) - Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

Draft Introduction Chapter for December 10, 2024 City Council Meeting(PDF, 4MB)

Joint City Council-Planning Commission October 15, 2024 Study Session Meeting Materials(PDF, 13MB) - Presentation(PDF, 5MB)

Draft Introduction Chapter - Planning Commission recommendation (September 2024)(PDF, 4MB) (includes Vision Statement and Guiding Principles)

Draft Introduction Chapter for May 9, 2024 Public Hearing(PDF, 4MB) (includes Vision Statement and Guiding Principles)

Draft General goals and policies (March 2024)(PDF, 942KB)

Planning Commission December 8, 2022 Meeting Materials(PDF, 6MB) - Presentation(PDF, 2MB)

City Council December 13, 2022 Meeting Materials(PDF, 4MB)  - Presentation(PPTX, 17MB)
City Council April 19, 2022 Meeting Materials(PDF, 6MB)  - Presentation(PPTX, 645KB) 
Planning Commission April 28, 2022(PDF, 5MB)  - Presentation(PDF, 1MB)
City Council July 18, 2023 Meeting Materials(PDF, 2MB)  - Presentation(PDF, 1MB)
Planning Commission July 27, 2023 Meeting Materials(PDF, 764KB)  - Presentation(PDF, 2MB)  

You may encounter unfamiliar terms while you learn about the Kirkland 2044 Comprehensive Plan. The Glossary of terms has been revised for the 2044 update and defines key words and acronyms found in the plan.

See the final K2044 Glossary(PDF, 231KB), which is included as Appendix A of the Comprehensive Plan.