The Kenmore City Council voted 5-2 on Dec. 8 to change the height restrictions in a certain Kenmore business zone to no more than 40 feet in order to preserve views of Lake Washington from the 522 corridor.

The zone in question includes Kenmore Air and the Northlake Marina, but not the Cement plant to the east.

“It’s better than what they were trying to impose upon us, but it still eliminates the likelihood of some of the proposed projects that we had looked at to allow more access to the lake,” said Jim Davidson, owner of the Northshore Marina.

The first proposal was to cap heights at 35 feet, with a setback for views; however, there were also three other proposals for height restrictions ranging from 35-50 feet.

Current regulations offer a base height of 35 feet and a maximum height of 75 feet, with setbacks from the property line to preserve views.

“[The decision] will create a stagnant condition or availability of wet or dry storage of boats, which will limit new people from having easy access to Lake Washington and the Kenmore area,” Davidson said. “And, it will probably drive up costs for the people that are there.”

However, many of the citizens who spoke at the session urged the council to limit the heights of businesses in order to ensure that their views from houses on the hill and from walking or driving along 522.

“I would encourage you to support the planning commissions recommendation,” said Kenmore resident Jack Pinnell during the meeting.

Others at the meeting showed support for the two businesses in question.

“As a member of this community, I sincerely believe we need to support their business improvement efforts, and others, by compromising and strengthening reasonable balance regarding height restrictions between 61st and Northeast 175th extending to the east and north to Bothell Way,” said Kenmore resident Tom Herman.

The passed proposal will allow for businesses that are not mixed use to build their structures to 40 feet.

“We’re disappointed,” said Todd Banks, president of Kenmore Air. “Its frustrating that we were singled out, that our property was singled out, and downsized when other people in the area didn’t get the same downsizing.”

The height restrictions do not apply to any businesses outside the newly created Waterfront Business District.

“Some people in Kenmore say they want to be a business friendly community and it’s extremely unfriendly to business to downsize two of the longest standing businesses in Kenmore when we have very little say about what was happening,” Banks said.

Kenmore Air and Northlake Marina officials have both stated that they don’t plan on appealing the new height restrictions.