Welcome to Kirkland Citizens for Responsible Development

What We Stand For
Citizens for Responsible Development support re-development in Downtown Kirkland according to the Comprehensive Plan for Kirkland. We believe that the future re-development must take into account the distinctive topography of our downtown, respect its hometown setting, and retain its human-scale and pedestrian orientation.

Where Things Stand

FINAL CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00 p.m. City Council will hold what is currently scheduled to be the final meeting on Parkplace. This is your last chance to have your voice heard. City Council will be voting to accept the Planning Commission's recommendations which is currently for multiple 8-story buildings with parking far below the city code. Arive early and speak out, even if you have been to other Planning Commission meetings.
It is vital our City Council hears our concerns!

What Can You Do
Written public comment is still being considered by City Council:
[link to City Council at ]

NEW CRITIQUE ON PARKING PLAN
Robert Bernstein has helped CRD complete a parking study. We remain highly concerned about the proposed parking plan and the assumptions that are being made. As it stands this project will be more than 1,500 parking spaces short of what City Code would require. That is a lot of shared parking!
Read the report here:
Click here to view Final Bernstein Letter

Traffic Will be Gridlocked
Frustrated with the increasing traffic and difficulty getting around our city? This project would bring more than 5,500 additional workers into the downtown core. According to the draft environmental impact study more than $13 million in traffic improvements will be needed to accommodate this increase. This with a city already projecting a $4-6 million deficit. (read more on Traffic page)

Parking will be Impossible
With parking already short in the downtown area, the Parkplace developer proposes nearly 1,600 fewer parking stalls than required by city code. Cars will overflow to neighboring streets and exacerbate downtown parking problems, ultimately driving shoppers and diners away from downtown Kirkland. (read more on Parking page)

There will be Significant Costs to the City
There are many costs with adding a 1.8 million square foot development to the downtown core. And to date, there have been no solutions offered on how these costs will be paid for. (read more on Costs page)

The Character of Kirkland will be Forever Changed
The proposed Parkplace rezone will block public views, change the gateway to Kirkland and forever alter the character of the city. And, it’s only the beginning, as neighboring properties are asking for increases in height limits as well. (read more on Views page)

There is a Better Solution
There are better solutions. Ones that add significant retail and office space, improve Parkplace and do so within existing building codes. (read more on Solutions page)

Citizens for Responsible Development challenged the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement)
Independent Traffic Engineer and Land Use Attorney criticize the traffic, parking and land use of the Parkplace project. (read more on Traffic page)