The Community Process

Touchstone currently has two design options being considered by the City of Kirkland. The first, its Mixed-Use Plan, incorporates 300,000 square feet of retail and generous amounts of public open space with some 1.2 million square feet of commercial-office space. This plan is currently being reviewed by the Planning Commission, which will make its recommendation to City Council later this year on the Preferred Alternative redevelopment option for the project.

Touchstone has also submitted a plan to the City for an Office Alternative Plan, which meets the Kirkland’s current zoning requirements. Under this plan, Kirkland Parkplace would be redeveloped predominantly with Class-A office space, within the 5-story height limit of the existing zoning. It would not feature the community-focused amenities than the Mixed-Use Plan incorporates.

View more information on both of the concurrent plans.

Private amendment request at a glance

  • On May 14, 2007, Touchstone Corporation submitted a private amendment request (PAR) application to the Kirkland City Council to amend the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code/Zoning Map for the redevelopment of the existing Kirkland Parkplace property.
  • The proposal includes up to 1.8 million square of office, retail and hotel space and approximately 3,410 parking stalls.
  • A building height increase from 3-5 stories to 4-8 stories.
  • A building setback reduction from 20 feet to zero feet on Central Way and 6th Street and, possibly, from 10 feet to 0 feet next to Peter Kirk Park with possible flexibility in other regulations such as lot coverage.

The PAR process has two steps

  • The threshold determination by the City Council to decide whether to further consider the request.
  • The study process for those requests to be considered further. The study process involves an environmental analysis to gauge impacts and suggest mitigation strategies, public hearings by the Planning Commission a recommendation from the Planning Commission to the City Council and a final decision by the City Council.

Decisions to date

  • On July 17, 2007, the City Council made the decision to further consider the Parkplace PAR.
  • The Council also passed a resolution which directed the Design Review Board (DRB) to play a role in advising the Planning Commission.

Public Process Timeline

December 2, 2008 City Council adoption [Proposed Alternative].
November 18, 2008 City Council Study Session [Proposed Alternative].
October 15 & or 22 & 23, 2008 Public Hearings [Proposed Alternative].
October 6, 2008 Final EIS Issued [Proposed Alternative].
September 25, 2008 Planning Commission Study Session [Proposed Alternative].
August 14, 2008 Planning Commission Study Session [Proposed Alternative].
July 31, 2008 Planning Commission Study Session [Proposed Alternative].
July 10, 2008 Planning Commission Study Session [Proposed Alternative].
June 26, 2008 Planning Commission briefing.
June 12, 2008 Planning Commission study session on preferred alternative.
May 22, 2008 Planning Commission deliberations PAO/comp plan/zoning.
May 12, 2008 Public art and open space Open House hosted by Touchstone to gather community feedback.
May 12, 2008 End of Draft EIS comment period.
April 24, 2008 Planning Commission hearing on comp plan/zoning.
April 22, 2008 Sustainability Open House hosted by Touchstone to gather community feedback.
April 21, 2008 DRB made a recommendation to the Planning Commission on Touchstone’s Private Amendment Request. View details on the recommendation.
April 15, 2008 City Council study session on EIS.
April 10, 2008 Planning Commission study session.
April 10, 2008 Planning Commission hearing on comp plan/zoning.
April 8, 2008 Open House on Draft EIS
April 7, 2008 End of Draft EIS comment period.
March 28, 2008 Draft Planned Action EIS issued.
March 27, 2008 Planning Commission hearing on Draft EIS.
March 11, 2008 Final Design Review Board review.
March 11, 2008 Design Review Board meeting.
March 11, 2008 Open House on Draft EIS.
February 22, 2008 Draft Planned EIS issued.
February 21, 2008 Open House hosted by Touchstone to solicit community feedback.
February 4, 2008 Design Review Board meeting.
January 7, 2008 Design Review Board meeting.
December 10, 2007 Open House hosted by Touchstone to solicit community feedback.
December 3, 2007 Design Review Board meeting.
November 29, 2007 Planning Commission meeting.
October 29, 2007 Open House hosted by Touchstone to solicit community feedback
October 25, 2007 Planning Commission meeting to discuss process and initial proposal with the public.
October 8, 2007 Launch of the Web site www.envisionkirklandparkplace.com and mailing to inform the public of the Open House schedule.
September 17, 2007 Design Review Board meeting to discuss the DRB’s role in the Parkplace PAR process and to begin review of Touchstone’s proposal.
August 23, 2007 Planning Commission meeting to discuss the process for Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code amendments.
July 17, 2007 City Council meeting on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment
May – September 2007 Ongoing public meetings with numerous neighborhood groups, downtown property owners and condominium associations.