Bellevue developer Lobsang Dargey should relocate the overpopulated big-box apartment complex out of our Kirkland neighborhood where it doesn’t fit (Bellevue developer’s plans controversial in Kirkland).

Dargey may be friendly, however, at issue is whether the proposed project is consistent with laws.

Kirkland’s ordinance 3974 says “The city’s … administrative actions and decisions must be in compliance with the adopted [comprehensive] plan.” In city-speak, “must” means mandatory.

Ordinance 3974 places commercial use restrictions on each property in Kirkland. Two properties are designated “Residential Market.” One is identified specifically on the map as “10th St S/LWB – Residential Market.”

Ordinance 3974 provides the definition “…an individual store or very small mixed-use building … focused on local pedestrian traffic. Residential scale and design are critical to integrate these into the residential neighborhood. … Uses may include small grocery stores, laundromat…small coffee shop.”

Is this project a small store? Very small building? Focused on local pedestrian traffic (to avoid exacerbating vehicular ingress/egress issues?

Is this consistent with any approved use?

Here’s materials given to Dargey in 2009/10 limiting uses:

http://www.kirklandpermits.net/tm_web/doc/201007/PRE0900072/PRE09-00072%20MATERIAL%20GIVEN%20TO%20APPLICANT%20120309.pdf

Dargey should not put anything in our residential neighborhood that his neighbors wouldn’t welcome on their street in Bellevue.

Karen Levenson, Kirkland