Zoning determines what can be built—and where. Kirkland consistently ranks #3 in density across the state - only behind Seattle and Mountlake Terrace. Lynnwood, Redmond and Bellevue — all now with light rail — trail well behind Kirkland. Washington State requires some updates to our middle housing code, but Kirkland was already at ahead across the state.

Kirkland’s elected officials retain discretion on how we implement these densification mandates, where.

The Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) program gives developers tax breaks in exchange for setting aside a small number of units as “affordable.” While that may sound like a reasonable trade-off, it has serious long-term consequences for Kirkland residents.

MFTE shifts the financial burden away from large-scale developers and onto everyday taxpayers and makes housing more unaffordable.

For many Kirkland residents, transit access is declining just as growth is accelerating. Kirklanders face discontinued or consolidated service in many neighborhoods—especially in north and east Kirkland, which have not been prioritized for future Metro investments.

Kirkland’s 2044 growth targets anticipate tens of thousands of new residents. Transit infrastructure isn’t keeping pace to support growth.

As Kirkland adds more housing, it’s important to understand how different types of development affect community needs. For example, smaller unit sizes and denser housing formats mean fewer families with school-age children.

So as more family homes are replaced with smaller condo units, Kirkland could follow Bellevue’s and Seattle’s leads with reduced school services and neighborhood school consolidation.