Tell Kirkland City Council: Don’t Go Beyond the Law
Kirkland is required to adopt middle housing—but the current proposal goes further than what the state demands, adding new fees, reducing parking early, and applying changes citywide with no pause or neighborhood targeting.
This letter asks the Council to remove or delay all elements that exceed state law and ensure future changes are made with full transparency and resident input.
Make your voice count before the vote on June 17 and send this letter today.
Cut and Paste
Addresses:
Message:
Dear Mayor Curtis, Deputy Mayor Arnold, and Councilmembers,
I’m writing as a Kirkland resident to express my deep concern about the proposed Middle Housing zoning amendments (Ordinance O-4905) coming before you on June 17.
While I understand the City is required to comply with the state’s Middle Housing law (HB 1110), I am troubled by how far Kirkland is choosing to go beyond what the law mandates.
Specifically:
• Parking minimums are being reduced 18 months ahead of the state’s deadline, without time to study how this will affect residential streets.
• A new fee on homes over 2,000 square feet has been added—an affordability policy not required by state law and one that will discourage standard family housing, the backbone of the Kirkland community.
• No phase-in or neighborhood-specific targeting has been included, unlike other cities who are pacing implementation.
• Two ADUs per lot will now be exempt from density limits, effectively increasing allowable units to 6–8 per lot—again, beyond what HB 1110 requires.
• And finally, a second phase of additional zoning changes is already planned for 2026, yet it’s not being disclosed or debated as part of this vote.
I urge you to take a step back. Comply with what is required—but no more until we have time to learn from and absorb these changes.