3. STATION AREA VISION AND OBJECTIVES

The Station Area planning and community engagement process produced the following vision statement for what the Station Area Subarea is envisioned to be in the year 2044.

The Station Area is a thriving, transit-oriented, new walkable district with high tech and family wage jobs, plentiful affordable housing, sustainable buildings, park amenities, and commercial and retail services.

The vibrant, mixed-use environment is a model of innovation. With an outstanding quality of life and unmatched mobility choices, the Station Area is eco-friendly, a place to connect, and deeply rooted in the history of the land, the people, and the culture of this special crossroads in Kirkland. The highly visible integration of ecological systems within an urban setting set the Station Area apart while tying the unique sub-area districts together with existing open space and active living opportunities.

Key objectives identified for the Station Area Subarea Plan are to leverage the planned Sound Transit 3 BRT Stride Station regional transit investment to maximize transit-oriented development and create the most:

—	Opportunity and inclusion,
—	Value for the City,
—	Community benefits, including:
	•	Plentiful affordable housing
	•	Sustainability measures
	•	Park amenities
	•	Active transportation improvements
	•	Solutions for school capacity, and
—	Quality of life.

In R-5503, City Council adopted a framework for the Station Area to guide development of strategies to achieve community benefits across five key issue areas: Affordable Housing; Mobility; Open Space/Parks; Sustainability; and Schools.

Figure 4: Community Benefit Objectives