Setting the Record Straight on the Comprehensive Plan

I’ve Spent My Career Planning for Growth—Here’s Why I Couldn’t Support the 2044 Kirkland Comprehensive Plan

Kirkland is a city with tremendous opportunity—a place where thoughtful, inclusive planning can allow us to grow sustainably while supporting the neighborhoods and community values that make this city unique.

As a transportation planner with two decades of experience helping cities across Washington prepare for growth, and as a planning and transportation commissioner for 14 years and now as a councilmember for the last 8 years, I’ve seen firsthand what works—and what creates long-term challenges. I believe in building a city that works for everyone with adequate infrastructure and services to support a growing population.

That’s why, after careful consideration, I could not support the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update as presented in December 2024. This wasn’t a decision made lightly—it was grounded in analysis, professional experience, and a commitment to Kirkland’s long-term success.

Why the Comprehensive Plan Fell Short

Growth is necessary, but how we grow matters. The plan adopted by the Council failed to meet key planning best practices:

Evaluated only one growth alternative (zoning for 38,000 new housing units), rather than the 3–5 options typically recommended
(Seattle evaluated 5 options, Bellevue 4 options, Redmond and Bothell 3 options)
No financial feasibility study to assess impacts on taxpayers or city services
Little infrastructure analysis to determine if schools, roads, and utilities could support this scale of growth
Last-minute amendments added the day of the vote without staff review or public input, undermining transparency and trust. This was in contrast to my approach, where I drafted amendments several weeks in advance to allow time for ample council, staff, and public feedback to promote transparency and thoughtful deliberation - a value I place a high importance on.

Perhaps most concerning, the EIS conducted for the plan illustrated that it would direct growth away from long-planned areas already designed to support higher density uses, such as the 85th Street Station Area and Totem Lake Urban Center, where transit, utilities, parks and services are already in place.

Kirkland Is Already Leading on Housing

All cities in the Puget Sound region were required to update their Comprehensive Plans by the end of 2024, based on housing and employment targets assigned by King County.

Kirkland has consistently been ahead of the curve:

Zoning updates to allow Middle Housing adopted in 2020, with my support
85th Street Station Area Plan adopted in 2023, with my support

These efforts already allowed for significant increases in housing capacity, without outpacing our infrastructure or services.

Our Existing Zoning Already Exceeds Growth Targets

Let’s look at the numbers:

Assigned Growth Target: 13,200 new housing units by 2044
Existing Zoning Capacity with no changes: ~19,500 new units
With Additional Changes Under Consideration: Up to ~22,000 new units

In contrast, the Comprehensive Plan update and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzed nearly 38,000 new units—almost triple the required target. Most cities in the region planned only to meet their targets. Kirkland was already well ahead.

A Record of Leadership

My voting record reflects my values and priorities on housing:

Voted for middle housing reforms
Supported the 85th Street Station Area Plan
Championed housing in Totem Lake, Downtown, and mixed-use commercial areas

As a transportation engineer, planning commissioner, and now a councilmember, I’ve dedicated my career to making growth work in real communities, not just on paper. I’m proud to have the sole endorsement of the Affordable Housing Council and strong support from homebuilders who know how to deliver housing.

I didn’t vote “no” to slow things down. I voted “no” because Kirkland deserves a plan that’s thoughtful, transparent, and grounded in reality.

We can still get this right—if all voices are brought to the table as we implement the Comprehensive Plan.

Positive Outcomes from the Vote

Standing up for what I believe in has resulted in some positive outcomes so far:

"Catalyze 85th Street Station Area" was added to the 2025-2026 Council Work Program
Kirkland is hiring an Economic Development Manager to address Station Area stagnation and work directly with potential investors and builders
Home Builders and Realtors have endorsed me - which is meaningful because we depend on our housing partners to build and sell housing, not government

Watch for Yourself my Speeches on the Comprehensive Plan

Below are links to videos of the speeches I gave on the Comprehensive Plan. The first video is from August 7, 2024 discussing the land use proposal, and the second video is the final vote on the Comprehensive Plan on December 10, 2024.