Kirkland Council adopts design-review code changes to meet state requirements

The City Council voted to adopt amendments to Chapter 92 and related design guidelines (Ordinance 49-22) to implement state law changes requiring clearer and more objective design standards and to limit design-review public meetings. Senior planner Tony Levitt told Council the ordinance converts guideline language into regulations, preserves district-specific massing standards, and provides new modulation and articulation options for applicants.

Levitt said the approach retained guideline intent while giving applicants objective, prescriptive compliance paths and adding an expanded public-notice program to preserve community input despite a shift to administrative review for some cases. "We tried to limit new substantive design regulations and give applicants more design options to comply," he said.

Councilmember Arnold moved adoption; Councilmember Falcone seconded. The clerk recorded the roll call (Arnold, Primm, Falcone, Pasco, Deputy Mayor Black and Mayor Curtis voted yes) and the ordinance passed by a 6-0 vote. Staff said it will update web pages, forms and application materials and check back with the Design Review Board and Council in one year to review how the administrative process is working.