Restrictions are set on Kenmore building heights

Ending roughly two years of sometimes contentious debate, Kenmore City Council on Dec. 8 voted 6-1 to restrict building heights on Northeast 181st Street to 35 feet.

Mayor David Baker said the comments of residents and opponents definitely helped convince him to join the council majority in supporting the height limits. He said Bothell and several other surrounding communities have thriving commercial areas without buildings that rise above three stories.

“I think that what we were looking for was to allow commercial development, but keep the residential flavor,” said Councilwoman Laurie Sperry, who also voted with the majority. “I think the process worked.”

Councilman John Hendrickson cast the only vote against the height restrictions. He could not be reached for comment following the meeting.

Local businessman Carl Michelman has been among those pushing for the council to support a more generous height restriction of 60 feet, which was put in place on the street by King County prior to Kenmore’s incorporation as a city.

“Of course I’m disappointed,” said Michelman, who owns a piece of property on 181st Street, though he has said in the past that he has no immediate plans to develop that land. “What they (council) did was protect private views, which they weren’t supposed to do.”

Those views belong to homeowners and residents on Northeast 182nd Street and adjacent streets who long have argued 60-foot buildings would kill the site lines between their homes and Lake Washington. David Greene is president of the Northlake Neighborhood Association, which was organized largely to oppose the King County zoning.

“We’re very satisfied,” Greene said. “And we’re happy to have this come to a resolution.”

Greene said he believes his organization had some effect on the outcome of the height debate.

“We kept on a consistent, respectful message with the council,” Greene said.

The height issue first surfaced when moves were made to change the zoning on 181st to commercial business zoning. The affected area sits on 181st between 61st Avenue Northeast and 66th Avenue Northeast.

Apparently partly in response to resident complaints, City Council turned the issue over to Kenmore’s Downtown Task Force. In turn, the task force put in place a moratorium on construction reaching 60 feet. The moratorium expired at the end of November, a situation that sparked renewed debate on the height issue.

In an 8-3 vote, the Downtown Task Force actually recommended the 60-foot height limit, but also called for so-called view corridors to be maintained. Michelman said he doesn’t understand why the council ignored the recommendations of the task force, in his opinion, wasting the time of the members of that task force.

“This council is totally against development,” Michelman said. “This city is in real trouble.”

While the zoning adopted Dec. 8 holds buildings to 35 feet, Sperry noted roof forms can add another 10 feet to any buildings on 181st Street.

According to the ordinance, the zoning also allows heights exceptions for skylights, flagpoles, chimneys, church steeples and similar structures. The code calls for property owners taking advantage of the height exemptions to set aside as view corridors at least 25 percent of the average lot width reaching above 35 feet.

Ending roughly two years of sometimes contentious debate, Kenmore City Council on Dec. 8 voted 6-1 to restrict building heights on Northeast 181st Street to 35 feet.

Mayor David Baker said the comments of residents and opponents definitely helped convince him to join the council majority in supporting the height limits. He said Bothell and several other surrounding communities have thriving commercial areas without buildings that rise above three stories.

“I think that what we were looking for was to allow commercial development, but keep the residential flavor,” said Councilwoman Laurie Sperry, who also voted with the majority. “I think the process worked.”

Councilman John Hendrickson cast the only vote against the height restrictions. He could not be reached for comment following the meeting.

Local businessman Carl Michelman has been among those pushing for the council to support a more generous height restriction of 60 feet, which was put in place on the street by King County prior to Kenmore’s incorporation as a city.

“Of course I’m disappointed,” said Michelman, who owns a piece of property on 181st Street, though he has said in the past that he has no immediate plans to develop that land. “What they (council) did was protect private views, which they weren’t supposed to do.”

Those views belong to homeowners and residents on Northeast 182nd Street and adjacent streets who long have argued 60-foot buildings would kill the site lines between their homes and Lake Washington. David Greene is president of the Northlake Neighborhood Association, which was organized largely to oppose the King County zoning.

“We’re very satisfied,” Greene said. “And we’re happy to have this come to a resolution.”

Greene said he believes his organization had some effect on the outcome of the height debate.

“We kept on a consistent, respectful message with the council,” Greene said.

The height issue first surfaced when moves were made to change the zoning on 181st to commercial business zoning. The affected area sits on 181st between 61st Avenue Northeast and 66th Avenue Northeast.

Apparently partly in response to resident complaints, City Council turned the issue over to Kenmore’s Downtown Task Force. In turn, the task force put in place a moratorium on construction reaching 60 feet. The moratorium expired at the end of November, a situation that sparked renewed debate on the height issue.

In an 8-3 vote, the Downtown Task Force actually recommended the 60-foot height limit, but also called for so-called view corridors to be maintained. Michelman said he doesn’t understand why the council ignored the recommendations of the task force, in his opinion, wasting the time of the members of that task force.

“This council is totally against development,” Michelman said. “This city is in real trouble.”

While the zoning adopted Dec. 8 holds buildings to 35 feet, Sperry noted roof forms can add another 10 feet to any buildings on 181st Street.

According to the ordinance, the zoning also allows heights exceptions for skylights, flagpoles, chimneys, church steeples and similar structures. The code calls for property owners taking advantage of the height exemptions to set aside as view corridors at least 25 percent of the average lot width reaching above 35 feet.