The Alert Northshore Emergency Notification System is a fast communication service allowing the City of Kenmore/NEMCo to notify citizens of an emergency situation. It enables the City to provide mass notification quickly and easily. The service is free to all residents and businesses located within city boundaries.

This system will allow the City of Kenmore/NEMCo to contact participants via a phone call, text, and/or email to provide information about a critical situation, what action needs to be taken, and notification that the situation has been resolved.

The City of Kenmore, City of Lake Forest Park, Northshore Utility District, and the Northshore Fire District have teamed up and formed the Northshore Emergency Management Coalition (NEMCo).

NEMCo’s focus is to engage the “whole community” to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters through education, and volunteer coordination. NEMCo provides a number of emergency preparedness training opportunities throughout the year for those interested in volunteering, or for those who just want to be better prepared at home.

In case of an emergency, City staff will access Alert Northshore via a secure portal on the web. A "contact area" will be marked identifying street addresses. Contact information will be matched up electronically to these addresses through the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). A written message and/or pre-recorded message.

A written and/or pre-recorded message will be sent out to phones and email addresses with information about the incident and possibly instructions for action to be taken.

1. Read or Listen the message. Do not ignore it.
2. Alert other people. Alert classmates, teachers, co-workers, friends, family and neighbors in the region who may be affected by the alert. Consider your neighbors who may not have access to the alert information or may need assistance if there are any actions that need to be taken.
3. Follow any action advised by the message. The instructions will be direct and specific to the particular situation. Be sure to follow them carefully. Do not call 911 unless you are in an emergency situation. Seek more details from local media or authorities.

Your area of the community may not be affected. In this case, you won’t receive a message even if it’s only a block away.

Alert Northshore will be used for significant incidents and events where the timely notification of an affected population or geographic area is essential.

The following information is required to add a telephone number into the Alert Northshore database: your first and last name; physical address (no P.O. boxes); city; state; zip code; and primary phone number. A primary phone number may be a cell phone, home phone, or work phone.

• Online - You may register for Alert Northshore by filling out the form below. Residents without Internet access may visit any of the public libraries to use a computer to register or call Bryan Hampson, City of Kenmore, 425-398-8900 or the NEMCo at 425-354-1744. Public Libraries near Kenmore:

  • Kenmore Public Library, 6531 NE 181st Street, Kenmore
  • Lake Forest Park Public Library, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park
  • Bothell Public Library, 18215 98th Ave NE, Bothell
  • Brier Library, 23303 Brier Road, Brier



• In person - You may register for Alert Northshore by visiting Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Avenue NE and filling out a form.

• Over the phone - You may register for Alert Northshore by calling Kenmore City Hall, 425 398 8900 and requesting Bryan Hampson.

To register, we require that you provide the following information: Full name, full residential address, and a phone number (you must indicate whether it is a cell phone, work, or home phone number).

This system will be used for emergency purposes or notification of information considered to be vitally important.

Examples of times when the Alert Northshore system could be utilized: drinking water contamination, utility outage, evacuation notice, missing person, fires or floods, bomb threat, hostage situation, chemical spill or gas leak, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety.

The City of Kenmore received a little over $6.4 million in funds in two payments: half was received in mid-2021 and the remainder was received in mid-2022. 

The U.S. Department of Treasury refers to the funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act as [Coronavirus] State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, or SLFRF. The City of Kenmore had already begun using the term "ARPA funds" and has retained that term for consistency. King County sometimes refers to these funds as Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds, or CLFR. All of these refer to the same federal program with the same funding source, the American Rescue Plan Act.

In May 2021, the Kenmore City Council allocated $1,000,000 for direct cash assistance to residents. (May 24, 2021 meeting minutes here.) In July 2021, the Kenmore City Council finalized guiding principles and a big picture strategy to guide the rest of the City’s funding decisions made possible by ARPA. (July 26, 2021 meeting minutes here.) Multiple avenues of community engagement provided Kenmore residents and stakeholders with an opportunity to weigh in on other preferred projects. In response, the Kenmore City Council approved the following other allocations:

• $3,200,000  Affordable Housing 
• $50,000       Homelessness Response
• $100,000    Catch-Up Learning and Childcare Support
• $250,000    Human Services 
• $250,000    Business Assistance (includes $75,000 for urgent business assistance in 2022)

Find a list of community resources on the City of Kenmore Community Resources page.

King County has published a "2022 King County Recovery Plan" that delineates King County's COVID-19 response to date, along with an outline of programs still in progress.

Washington State Department of Commerce has COVID-19 resources on their website at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/.

U.S. Department of Commerce has a COVID-19 Information Hub on their website at https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub.

RASKC animal control field officers respond to the following requests:

• leash law enforcement
• vicious animal complaints
• cruelty investigations
• animal bites
• injured animal rescues
• "dead-on-arrival" livestock/cats/dogs
• police department calls for assistance
• aggressive or sick animal pick-up

King County Animal Control Contact

Phone:  (206) 296-PETS (7387)
Email:  

If you are experiencing a life-threatening animal-related emergency, call 9-1-1.

Lower priority animal services:

Lower priority calls will be responded to by call center staff over the telephone, referral to other resources, or by dispatch of an animal control field officer as necessary or available.These calls include, but are not limited to:

•  non-emergent high priority events
• patrol requests
• trespass
• stray dog/cat
• barking dog
• leash law violation
• trap requests
• confined animal notification.

Contact PAWS if you have a lost dog or cat.

PAWS
15305 44th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98087
(425) 787-2500

For more information about the PAWS sheltering program, hours of operation, or to adopt a pet, please see the PAWS Shelter website.

Locations for photo enforcement are based on analysis done by the City's engineering department; this analysis is presented to City Council, which then makes the final determination. The methodology the engineering department uses for recommending photo enforcement is dependent on whether red-light enforcement or speed enforcement is being considered: 

• For automated red-light enforcement, the engineering department will recommend that red-light cameras be installed only as an escalation of conventional red-light enforcement which has been shown to be effective but unfeasible. If an intersection has a high frequency of crashes which are related to red-light violations, or if the frequency and nature of red-light violations is creating a high crash risk for vulnerable road users (i.e. bicyclists and pedestrians), then the engineering department will recommend to the police department that the intersection receive special red-light enforcement. If in-person enforcement is effective at addressing the issue but it is not possible to provide in-person enforcement with sufficient frequency to permanently resolve the issue, then the engineering department will recommend that automated red-light enforcement be implemented in order to provide a permanent enforcement presence. 

• For automated speed enforcement, the engineering department continuously monitors Kenmore streets for high crash frequency or high-risk speeding behavior. Unfortunately crashes occur every year in our school zones on busier streets (classified as "arterial" or "collector" streets by traffic engineers) in spite of frequent speed enforcement by Kenmore Police. Although we are fortunate that in recent years these crashes have not involved pedestrians and many are low in severity, they nonetheless demonstrate the risk present to all road users and vulnerable road users especially. For this reason, the engineering department conducts school-zone speeding analysis in all school zones on arterial and collector streets, and also on school zones which have experienced at least one crash in the past five years, even if they are not located on arterial or collector streets. This analysis takes into account factors such as the actual travel speed in the school zone, the volume of traffic, the frequency and degree of school-zone speed-limit violations, and the frequency of crashes within the school zone. This is used to estimate how many crashes would be prevented by automated speed enforcement. If it is estimated that automated speed enforcement would reduce the number of school-zone crashes by at least one crash per year, or reduce the risk of fatal crashes by 50% or more, then the engineering department will recommend that automated speed enforcement be implemented for that school zone. 

The enforcement hours will be the same as the school zone flasher hours. In Kenmore, all school zones (with or without photo enforcement) have the following pattern for school zone hours:

               AM: Starts 75 minutes before the first bell, ends 15 minutes after the first bell

               PM: Starts 15 minutes before the end of classes, ends 75 minutes after classes are out

We do this for a few reasons:

- One hour before school and one hour after school covers almost all regularly scheduled school activities that happen on school days.

- An additional fifteen minutes on either end of those one-hour periods covers the time spent actually walking to or from school and is also there for parents who walk with their kids.

The short answer is no: if you are already in the intersection when the light turns red that is not a red light violation and it will not trigger the camera.

A red light violation is when the driver faced with a red light fails to stop before entering the intersection, and so the red light camera only detects violations when drivers enter the intersection after the light has already changed. If you are partially or entirely within the intersection (or even stuck in the intersection because traffic is backed up) when the light turns red you will be able to continue through and exit the intersection without risk of triggering the camera. Additionally, all violations detected by the camera will be reviewed by Kenmore police officers personally – if there is an occasion when the camera triggered and recorded what it expected to be a violation, but the police officer determines that no violation occurred, then there will be no ticket issued to that driver. All tickets issued are ultimately on the judgement of Kenmore police officers, the same officers who would be issuing those tickets in person.

Although speeding and red light violations are typically moving violations, state law does not classify them as moving violations when they are detected by photo enforcement, and so they will not appear on your driving record, and will not be reported to insurance companies.

The school zone speed limit is only in effect when the school zone flashers are on, and the police will never issue an infraction for a school zone speeding violation if the flashers are not active. 

 We make every effort to have the school zone flashers and the photo enforcement system consistent with each other, but occasionally changes to the school schedule (such as changes related to snow days or special events) may result in the systems being out of sync. When this happens, there may be a period of time where one system is active but the other isn't - when this is the case, no fines will be issued. 

Sometimes the school-zone flashers and the KAPE system will be active even though school is not in session – most likely this is because of a sudden change in the school schedule (such as Northshore School District declaring a snow day), and there has not been enough time for the City to update the school-zone schedule. If the KAPE system detects a possible violation but school is not in session, it is the policy of the Kenmore Police to reject the violation and no notice of infraction will be issued.

We are all equal in the eyes of the traffic camera. There is a great deal of conversation going on around traffic stops right now, and many agree that fewer traffic stops would be better. Photo enforcement allows for the enforcement benefit to continue while removing the need for a traffic stop in order to issue the notice of infraction.

Violations detected by photo enforcement are still reviewed by a police officer before a notice of infraction is issued, but the review is done without any identifying information, which is another requirement of the RCW.

This allows for consistent, rules-based enforcement, which can remove doubt about fair treatment for drivers who receive a notice of infraction.

If you are no longer able to retrieve mail from the address indicated on your vehicle registration, please reach out to the customer service line for our photo enforcement contractor: 1-866-790-4111 The customer service agent will be able to determine if a notice of infraction (NOI) was issued for your vehicle, and help route the NOI to the correct mailing address. Please note that possible violations detected by our traffic safety cameras may take a few days to complete review by our Kenmore Police, and this information may not be immediately available to customer service agents.

If you no longer have the notice of infraction, please reach out to the customer service line for our photo enforcement contractor:                      1-866-790-4111

If you receive a warning in the mail, there is no response required and there is no fine to pay. If you have any questions about why you received a warning, or how photo enforcement warnings are processed, you can reach out to our Photo Enforcement customer service center at 1-866-790-4111 between 5:00 AM and 5:00 PM, excluding holidays or weekends. For more general questions, comments, or concerns about the Kenmore Automated Photo Enforcement (KAPE) program, please use our Report a Concern service on the Kenmore Website.

• Center for Human Services Clinical Programs and Family Support Center
•  Kenmore Elementary PTA - Social Service Crisis Support
• Northshore Youth and Family Services
• Crisis Connections of King County
• Healthpoint Primary Medical and Dental Care
• Northshore Senior Center – Adult Day Health and Wellness Programs  

•  YMCA Summer Lunch Program at Kenmore City Hall
• Hopelink Emergency Food Program
• Hopelink Emergency Housing Program
• Meals on Wheels (Sound Generations)
• Mary's Place Shelter and Family Services

A comprehensive plan is a policy statement adopted by a city to guide decisions affecting the community’s physical development. A comprehensive plan indicates how the City envisions the community’s future, and sets forth strategies for achieving the desired community. A plan generally has three characteristics. First, it is comprehensive: the plan encompasses all the geographic and functional elements which have a bearing on the community’s physical development. Second, it is general: the plan summarizes the major policies and proposals of the City, but does not usually indicate specific locations or establish detailed regulations. Third, it is long range: the plan looks beyond the current pressing issues confronting the community, to the community’s future.

Many of the day-to-day decisions made by City officials can have a significant impact on how the community develops and functions. When these decisions are made in a piecemeal, uncoordinated manner, the result is likely to be land use and development patterns that are conflicting, inefficient and difficult to serve with public facilities and services. Piecemeal decisions frustrate a community’s ability to manage its own destiny. By establishing the community’s long-range general policy for its own physical development, a comprehensive plan coordinates and guides individual decisions in a manner that efficiently moves the community toward its overall goals. While other governmental agencies, financial institutions, developers and citizens all have a substantial impact on the community through their individual investment and development decisions, City government is the only entity with both the opportunity and responsibility to guide the community’s overall development. The City is in the best position to coordinate and balance the often competing needs and pressures that confront the community as it approaches the future.

A comprehensive plan serves many functions, including:

Policy Determination: In adopting a comprehensive plan, a City Council sets forth a coherent set of policies. This process has two functions. First, it encourages City officials to look at the big picture, to step away from current pressing needs to develop overriding policy goals for their community. Second, it allows the City Council to make explicit the policies guiding their decisions so that those policies may be viewed critically and subjected to open and democratic review.

Policy Implementation: A community can move more effectively toward its goals and implement its policies after they have been agreed to and formalized through adoption of a comprehensive plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a basic source of reference for officials as they consider the enactment of ordinances or regulations affecting the community’s physical development (e.g. a zoning ordinance or a particular rezone), and when they make decisions pertaining to public facility investments (e.g. capital improvement programming or construction of a specific public facility). This ensures that the community’s overall goals and policies are furthered, or implemented, by those decisions.

The plan also provides a practical guide to City officials as they administer City ordinances and programs. This ensures that the day-to-day decisions of City staff are consistent with the overall policy direction established by the City’s legislative body.

Communication/Education: The comprehensive plan communicates to the public and to City staff the policy of the legislative body. This allows the staff, the public, private developers, business people, financial institutions, and other interested parties to anticipate what the decisions of the City are likely to be on any particular issue. As such, the plan provides predictability. Everyone is better able to plan activities knowing the probable response to their proposals and to protect investments made on the basis of policy. In addition, the comprehensive plan can educate the public, the business community, the staff and the legislative body itself on the workings, conditions, and issues within their City. This can stimulate interest in the community’s affairs and increase the citizen participation in government.

Basis for Coordination: The plan serves to focus, direct and coordinate the efforts of the departments within City government by providing a general comprehensive statement of the City’s policies and goals.

In addition to the above functions, the plan also provides a comprehensive means for city staff to supply advice to the legislative body; it fulfills certain legal prerequisites for the regulation of land use and development; it serves as a basis for coordination between various governmental agencies; and it serves as a guide to the courts when reviewing the City’s land use decisions.

A Comprehensive Plan is a "policy plan" which provides policy guidance in two forms. First, it can set forth the City’s policies addressing the full range of issues which confront the community. Second, it can graphically illustrate, through the use of the Comprehensive Plan map, how policy should be implemented geographically within the community. These two aspects of the City’s policy are interrelated and must be borne in mind when considering a land use or development decision.

A policy plan is considered to be a dynamic document. It is designed to provide guidance and predictability while being flexible and responsive to changing times and conditions. A good policy plan must be able to balance the need to anticipate the future with the need to be flexible enough to respond to actual demands as they occur.

A comprehensive plan should be based upon sound planning principles and practices. However, it is critical that the comprehensive plan also take into account the uniqueness of the area and the community it addresses.

The purpose of a permit is to ensure your construction project meets City codes and is safe for the public. This compliance protects you in several ways. By following the code(s), your project will meet minimum standards of safety. Property insurers may only cover work done with a valid permit. If you decide to sell your property, a permit will assure buyers the standards of your work. And, in the case of a lawsuit, a property owner can show that code requirements were strictly met when working with a permit.

Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business with Department of Labor & Industries

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by building code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. The eCityGov Alliance has prepared a tipsheet for single family properties with frequent questions about whether a permit is required or not. See the Permits When Required Tipsheet (PDF). Please note, any work in critical areas, shoreline, sensitive area  or associated buffer(s) may NOT be exempt, please contact permittech@kenmorewa.gov.  

A building permit is not required for the following work on your private property per KMC 15.30.205:

• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work; provided, that existing, required accessible features are not altered.
• Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets, and scenery.
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of one- and two-family dwellings or Group R-3 and Group U occupancies which do not project more than 54 inches (1,372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
• Nonfixed and movable cases, counters and partitions not over five feet nine inches (1,753 mm) in height.
• Satellite earth station antennas six and one-half feet (two meters) or less in diameter or diagonal dimensions in zones other than residential zones.
• Satellite earth station antennas three and one-quarter feet (one meter) or less in diameter in residential zones; and
• Video programming service antennas three and one-quarter feet (one meter) or less in diameter or diagonal dimension, regardless of zone.
• Replacement of nonstructural siding on IRC structures except for veneer, stucco, or exterior finish and insulation lotssystems (EFIS).
• In-kind window replacement for IRC structures where no alteration of framing members is required and when the window U-values meet the prescriptive requirements within the Washington State Energy Code.
• Job shacks that are placed at a permitted job site during construction may be allowed on a temporary basis and shall be removed upon final approval of construction. A job shack is a portable structure for which the primary purpose is to house equipment and supplies, and which may serve as a temporary office during construction for the purposes of the construction activity.
• In-kind reroofing on IRC structures, provided roof sheathing is not removed, replaced or added.

A mechanical permit is required to install, alter, repair, replace or remodel per International Mechanical Code. A mechanical permit is not required for the following per Kenmore Municipal Code 15.30.205:

• Portable heating, cooking, or clothes drying appliances.
• Portable ventilation appliances and equipment.
• Portable cooling unit.
• Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment or appliances regulated by the construction codes.
• Replacement of any part which does not alter its approval or make it unsafe.
• Portable evaporative cooler.
• Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds (4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of one horsepower (746 W) or less.
  Portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected.

A plumbing permit is required for any installation, alteration, repair, replacement or remodel of any plumbing system per Uniform Plumbing Code. A plumbing permit is not required for the following per KMC 15.30.205:

• The stopping and/or repairing of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that should any concealed trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this code.
• The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
• Re-installation or replacement of prefabricated fixtures that do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves or pipes. [Ord. 10-0310 § 4 (Exh. C).]

Permits are required for all new signs or expansions of existing signs in Kenmore. No permit is needed for repainting, cleaning, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign, or for sign face and copy changes that do not alter the size or structure of the sign. In addition, per KMC 18.42.030, sign permits are not required for the following:

• Historic site markers or plaques, gravestones, and address numbers.
• Signs required by law (i.e., traffic directional signs, official or legal notices issued and posted by any public agency or court).
• Plaques, tablets or inscriptions indicating the name of the building, date of erection, or other commemorative information, which are an integral part of the building structure or are attached flat to the face of the building, which are nonilluminated, and which do not exceed four square feet in surface area.
• Incidental signs, which shall not exceed two square feet in surface.
• State or Federal Flags.
• Religious symbols.
• Flag of a commercial institution. No more than one on-site flag is permitted per business premises, and the flag does not exceed 20 square feet in surface area.

From Department of Ecology: There is not an ongoing requirement for groundwater monitoring at the Site. The Consent Decree (CD) and Clean-up Action Plan (CAP) original groundwater monitoring plan required monitoring in 2009-10, which was completed, and then as part of the approval of deferred industrial maintenance work at the Site, additional monitoring was conducted in 2012. The 2009 groundwater monitoring plan – supplemental to the Compliance Monitoring Plan (CMP) – only required two semi-annual rounds of compliance monitoring.

Of the three types of compliance monitoring: protection, performance, and confirmational monitoring – it appears that all have been met at the site. Cleanup work is completed so no need for protection monitoring. Monitoring shows the cleanup levels are met at the Conditional Points of Compliance (CPOC) – so performance monitoring is completed. For confirmational monitoring, the plan required monitoring into 2009-10 which has been completed. Also long term monitoring under a compliance monitoring plan is only required until site cleanup levels are met (which appears to be the case at this site).

We (DOE) looked over the CD requirements for the periodic review at the Kenmore Industrial Park Site. The CD has a “Five Year Review” provision which doesn’t require any action other than upon request (by either Ecology or Pioneer Towing) the parties will meet and discuss site status every five years. Ecology could require additional remedial actions (i.e., groundwater monitoring) if necessary to protect human health or the environment.

DOE could require more sampling if it is required to conduct a periodic review. This would be outside of the CMP requirement, and would instead be under WAC 173-340-420(3).  Ecology would need to evaluate why another round of groundwater data is necessary for the periodic review. It does not appear that there is any indication that the site is no longer meeting CULs in groundwater at the CPOC. The site appears to have been in compliance at the groundwater CPOC since 2009. Ecology is continuing periodic review because there is an institutional control at the site – so in the review Ecology is checking the effectiveness of the completed cleanup action and the effectiveness of the institutional controls. Groundwater monitoring may not be necessary to judge the effectiveness of the cleanup action since Ecology understands that it has met CUL over 10 years ago. 

• We understand that this project is complex and will take time. We’re planning a careful, efficient, and organized approach to review, public participation, permitting, and construction. The City will manage this project carefully and in compliance with the Kenmore Municipal Code, Kenmore Comprehensive Plan, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and other agreements, overlays, and conditions that apply to this property (there are many!).
• This project will involve many other agencies including but not limited to Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, King County, the Tribes, Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers, Northshore Utility District, Kenmore Police Department, Northshore Fire Department, and Puget Sound Energy. The City plans to partner with agencies for a collaborative review of this project.
• For questions on this project please contact either Development Services Director, Samantha Loyuk, or Assistant City Manager, Stephanie Lucash. Samantha is available by phone at (425) 398-8900 x6162 or via e-mail at sloyuk@kenmorewa.gov, and Stephanie can be reached by phone at (425) 398-8900 x 6179, or via e-mail at slucash@kenmorewa.gov. 

No. This type of housing was common before World War II and was organically integrated with other housing types, including single-family homes. In fact, in a few isolated instances, Middle housing already exists in Kenmore neighborhoods (see photos below) but it would not be able to be built today under current rules. Ninety-five percent of Kenmore’s land zoned exclusively for residential uses in the city is zoned for single-family homes.

Also, the typical footprint of a single-family home has increased from less than 1,000 square feet in 1950 to 2,500 in 2017 which adds to housing cost and further limits housing choice. Middle housing is an opportunity to provide housing choices that meet a broader range of housing needs for different groups of people in Kenmore and for those who would like to live in our neighborhoods but due to the limits of our current zoning have no acceptable housing choice.

Kenmore Duplex                                                                                                                       Kenmore Duplex

No. Middle housing consists of house-scale buildings that are compatible with single-family neighborhoods. In most neighborhoods that already include this type of housing, the units blend in and you have to look closely to notice a Middle home. Local examples include Ballard and the pre-WWII Lower Maywood Hill neighborhood near downtown Bothell. Any new regulations that allow for Middle housing will include standards that will limit the size, width, depth, and height, as well as regulate other design elements of this type of housing.

Middle housing can provide another entry point for people who want to live (or stay) in Kenmore but can’t afford to purchase (or stay in) and maintain a single-family home.  Middle-income wage earners such as schoolteachers, mechanics, grocery store managers, and first responders may find Middle housing types affordable.

Middle housing can also be desirable to seniors who are downsizing, smaller households (only 34% of households in Kenmore contain individuals <18 years old), or young adults just getting started in the housing market. Service workers with lower incomes may also benefit from rental housing located in desirable neighborhoods. More than a quarter of Kenmore residents rent their housing unit.

Single-family zoning is also known as “exclusionary zoning” and perpetuates systemic racism and classism. Single-family zoning initially was used to prevent those with lower incomes or black, indigenous or people of color from living in certain neighborhoods. Racist covenants were sometimes put in place, including in Kenmore.  Although the covenants are now outlawed, single-family zoning keeps most renters and low-income individuals (often people of color) out of a neighborhood.

Allowing Middle housing in single-family neighborhoods provides an entry point for people who want to live in Kenmore--with its good schools and other amenities--but can’t afford to purchase a single-family home. Kenmore DEI information 

Not necessarily. Middle housing refers to the size of the dwelling, not its cost. Middle housing (duplexes, triplexes, cottage housing) is typically less expensive than a traditional single-family home, but these may or may not fit strictly into the affordable housing definition. Architect Daniel Parolek coined the term “Missing Middle” housing.  His research has found that “Missing Middle” housing types are typically affordable for households with incomes at 60% of area median income or higher; as result, Parolek suggests that “attainable housing” may be a more appropriate term for describing “Missing Middle” housing. (Missing Middle Housing, by Daniel Parolek, page 53).

The answer to this question goes back to the laws of supply and demand. A large part of the existing housing affordability crisis is related to the fact that there are not enough housing units to satisfy demand, nor are there enough housing choices, especially in the gap between apartments and single-family homes. Because of this gap and overall lack of supply, housing prices have skyrocketed. Adding additional housing units and types of housing choices to the housing stock should help stabilize housing costs. And Middle housing is typically more affordable than single-family residences.

In the area the Planning Commission is considering for new Middle housing, State law mandates that no more than 0.75 parking stalls per unit or 1 space per bedroom may be required.  The Planning Commission is considering an ordinance that would require 0.75 parking stalls per unit.  For a duplex or triplex, this would mean a minimum of two off-street parking spaces. A developer could, of course, build more parking if there was a concern that future owners/residents would not have adequate places to park, particularly in areas of limited street parking.

That said, parking requirements can be a barrier to adding more Middle housing, especially given that Middle housing residents are less likely to have a car than single-family owners[1].

Less parking requirements for Middle housing should especially be considered in areas that are within a five- or ten-minute walk to bus lines.

Yes. The City already has substantial tree preservation regulations in place and is considering even more, including increasing the tree replacement rate, further limiting tree cutting on existing residential lots, and mandating the preservation of “exceptional” larger trees.  The City’s tree rules would not change with allowing for new “Missing Middle” housing. Given the proposed limitations on “Missing Middle” building size, the new structures should have no more impact on the tree canopy than would a new single-family residence. As with any new development, existing trees may be removed, but strict and substantial replacement rules apply.

Furthermore, from a bigger-picture environmental perspective, allowing for responsible tree cutting and replacement inside the King County urban growth boundary for the purpose of increasing urban housing supply prevents even more tree cutting that comes from suburban sprawl in the rural areas outside the urban growth boundary.

No. Even with the potential changes, it is unlikely that rapid or dramatic changes in land use would be seen. Development of “Missing Middle” housing likely would be slow and incremental over many years.  The City of Kirkland has allowed “Missing Middle” housing in their community since 2018. Since those rules were put in place, interest has been growing slowly with permits for about a dozen “Missing Middle” housing units issued.  A study of Portland’s duplexes/triplexes by the Sightline Institute concluded that “on most urban lots, legalizing smallplexes would mean nothing at all for many years.” Regardless, it is important to establish opportunities for this type of development now before opportunities are lost.  The Planning Commission is aware that this is an incremental change to Kenmore and is recommending policies that would encourage the City to take additional supportive action in the future.

No. Middle housing does not look like an apartment building. By definition, these housing options are house-scale buildings that happen to have more than one unit. This definition “counters the belief that as you add more units to a building it needs to get bigger and that multi-unit buildings are always bigger than a single-family home.” (Parolek, page 11) As part of the Framing the Future of Housing proposal, the Planning Commission is considering a maximum size requirement for new duplexes and triplexes. The goal is to ensure that large structures, out of scale with existing neighborhoods, are not constructed. The Planning Commission also is considering design standards for duplexes and triplexes. See photos, below, of contemporary duplexes and triplexes.

To view more images of “Missing Middle” housing, see:

Sightline Institute: Missing Middle Homes Photo Library’s albums | Flickr

This truly is a chicken and egg question. Additional housing density provides both the additional taxes and impact fees necessary to support City-funded infrastructure as well as the physical infrastructure improvements required as part of a permit approval. To prevent new housing density because the infrastructure does not yet exist stops some infrastructure from eventual construction.

In recent years Kenmore has added many new sidewalks and bicycle lanes, including the new sidewalks and bike lanes currently under construction on the City’s principle north-south arterial, 68^th Avenue/Juanita Drive.  More new sidewalks and bike lanes are planned in the coming years.

Substantial improvements in transit service will be realized when Sound Transit’s “Stride” bus rapid transit comes online in 2026.

As for parks, the City has expanded capacity at a number of parks in recent years, including Moorlands Park, City Hall Park, Northshore Summit Park, Rhododendron Park, Log Boom Park (currently under construction), Tl' awh-ah-dees Park (construction about to begin), and Twin Springs Park (construction anticipated in 2022).

At the time the accessory dwelling unit regulations were put in place, about 50 units existed in the city. Over the past year, an additional 9 accessory dwelling units have been permitted under the new rules.  While this small amount of new housing contributes to the city’s housing stock and provides rental opportunities, more housing units and housing choices are needed.

This is a hard question. Existing housing is likely to be more affordable (for rent or purchase) than new housing. So, if an existing more affordable unit is replaced with additional more expensive units, there may be a temporary net loss in more affordable/attainable housing units. Still, “Missing Middle” housing is part of the answer to housing affordability concerns for the same reasons stated in question #7—the increased density will improve the housing supply, and the homes, being somewhat smaller, will tend to be more affordable than larger homes.

Another benefit of “Missing Middle” housing like duplexes and triplexes is that a purchaser could buy a building, live in one unit and rent out the other one or two, helping cover the cost of the mortgage, and providing rental housing to those who cannot afford to purchase.

The State Growth Management Act, multicounty planning policies (VISION 2050) – see https://www.psrc.org/vision - and King County countywide planning policies all support consideration of Middle housing in their plans and directives. Kenmore must, therefore, consider opportunities for Middle housing in the city.

VISION 2050 states that the City should, “Expand housing capacity for moderate density housing to bridge the gap between single-family and more intensive multifamily development and provide opportunities for more affordable ownership and rental housing that allows more people to live in neighborhoods across the region.”

The NTPP comment form has been closed as of 8/3/17. If you would like to submit a traffic related request, please visit our Citizen Action Request page.

The picnic shelter reservations are managed by the Kenmore Senior Center at (425) 489-0707.

Not at this time. The shelter is available for use on a first come, first serve basis.

Yes, however no open flames are allowed.

Daytime moorage is permitted. Overnight moorage is not allowed.

Please visit the Moorlands Park Athletic Field page for more information.

• Online. Purchase or renew your pet's license online via the Regional Animal Services of King County website.
• In Person. Buy or renew a pet license in person at Kenmore City Hall or other convenient pet licensing locations throughout King County.
• Mail. Download an application form, or visit a convenient location near you to pick up an application form, and complete the Owner's Statement of Spay or Neuter form.

• The first time your pet is found, King County will attempt to skip the shelter and bring your pet home;
• Licensed pets have a longer stray hold at the shelter;
• The Vacation Pet Alert programs allows you to provide contact information for your pet care while you are away from home; and
• Pet license fees support the return of hundreds of lost pets to their homes and help adopt thousands of homeless pets to new families each year. License revenues from Kenmore residents are applied to the City's service costs, so you are directly supporting the services provided in Kenmore.

• Three small animals may be kept in the City if your property is less than 20,000 square feet (0.4591 acre) in size.
• Five per household on lots of 20,000 to 35,000 (0.8035) square feet.
• Additional small animals: two per acre of site area over 35,000 square feet.
• Roosters are allowed in the total.

The property owner is responsible for removal. Please visit the Development Service's Trees page for information on tree removal.

The City requires a tree removal application for all tree removal not related to development. Please visit the Development Service's Trees page for information on tree removal.

Please visit Northshore Utility District's page on Locating Water and Sewer Lines.

Please visit the Washington 811 website to learn more about safe digging requirements.

Visit King County Parcel Viewer or iMap to view an approximate location of your parcel's property lines. For an accurate measurement, hire a professional surveyor. The City does not keep records of property lines.

Per KMC 12.70.050, the adjacent property owner is responsible for removal.

Snow and ice are cleared based on priority routes as shown on the Snow Removal Priority Map. First priority roads will be treated until they are safe to travel. Crews will then move on to second priority roads. If the weather event is still in progress, crews will move back to first priority roads until they are once again safe. Despite the use of four-wheel drive and chains, some streets are still not safely navigable by the City's fleet. A decision to close a road may be made if it is deemed too hazardous to safely treat.

There is typically a "Road Maintenance Agreement" which is recorded with the plat assigning maintenance, repair and replacement responsibilities to the property owners who use the road for access. King County iMap or Parcel Viewer are helpful tools for property research.

Please see the Maintaining Sidewalks flyer for more information. Depending on the situation, sidewalk repairs may be the responsibility of the City or the adjacent property owner.

Public Works Operations repairs potholes on most streets with the exception of private roads and SR 522 (NE Bothell Way) which is a state highway. To report potholes on SR 522, visit WSDOT's online service request portal.

Street sweeping is not request based with the exception of safety issues such as gravel, or illicit discharge issues such as mud tracked on the road. The City has a contract for street sweeping which is scheduled to complete a full city sweep five times per year. The City operates it's own street sweeper weekly on the arterial roads to keep bike lanes free of debris. The City will also do additional city sweeps during the fall and winter months to clean up leafy debris.

Most likely, someone has marked the location of underground utilities. Any individual can request these markings (free of charge) through Washington 811 and the law requires the utilities in the right of way to be marked.

Northshore Utility District maintains fire hydrants through a Hydrant Maintenance Program.

Guardrails are maintained by King County through a service contract with the City of Kenmore. Please submit concerns directly to the City for review and routing.

Please immediately call Public Works at (425) 398-8900 to report water quality violations and illegal dumping. If you call after hours, on-call staff are available to receive your call. Pollutants discharged into the environment can often migrate from the area quickly. Prompt reporting is often needed in order to stop pollutants from spreading and allows the City to hold the responsible party accountable.

The City has a map of the drainage system. When viewing the map, select "stormwater" from the layers menu and the City's entire drainage system will be available to view.

City owned surface water facilities, such as ponds and water quality swales, are typically mowed between May and September. The City owns many facilities and each round of mowing may take 4 - 6 weeks depending on seasonal variations. The City will complete 2 - 3 rounds of mowing per year.

If the catch basin is in a busy roadway or you do not feel safe near it, please call Public Works and someone will assist you. A catch basin may be blocked for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, leaves or debris may be blocking the opening into the catch basin (particularly in fall) and simply removing the blockage from around the surface of the structure will allow it to drain. If the catch basin appears to be backed up internally, please call Public Works.

Adjacent property owners are responsible for maintaining vegetation and aesthetics of ditches. Additional information can be found by viewing the Right of Way Maintenance flyer. Public Works only conducts maintenance required for the structural integrity and function of the ditch.

Typically, the City only operates and maintains the drainage system in public right-of-way and on City owned properties. Maintenance of drainage systems on private property is typically the responsibility of the property owner unless a recorded easement was granted to the City (or King County) for the purpose of maintaining the drainage system.

No, ditch filling is generally not allowed. Drainage systems utilizing ditches are not designed to function the same as systems utilizing curbs, gutters and catch basins and intermittent ditch filling often leads to system wide issues, add polluted runoff and creates flooding problems downstream.

The City of Kenmore has two programs that address pedestrian safety and accessibility: The Pedestrian Facilities Plan and the ADA Transition Plan. 

Pedestrian Facilities Plan: With the large need of sidewalks with the City, areas were identified as high priority for constructing pedestrian facilities.  The plan identifies 159 projects proposed throughout the City. Projects were identified by road type, proximity to and influence by schools, proximity to public services, and the number of pedestrian that could potential be served by the project.  All identified projects were scored from several criteria and given a priority number.  Unfortunately, given the high number of projects and cost involved, the process for building new sidewalks will be slow and heavily dependent upon available funding. As such, the City engineering team look for outside funding sources to help speed along the construction of projects.  To be competitive, some projects are pulled out of order as they may rate higher with grant agencies and may get funding. We make every effort to secure funding for the projects in the plan but with limited funds and resources, we cannot address every concern in the short term.

ADA Transition Plan: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan identifies where the existing sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, parking, and push buttons (Elements) do not meet accessibility guidelines.  The plan looks at the number and type of issues with each Element and assess what needs to be done to bring it into compliance with ADA and then it is assigned a priority. Funding has been approved by the City Council to address these concerns, however, the issues are numerous and funding and resources are limited. Our goal is to address as many concerns as possible every other year based upon the transition plan.

Kenmore is a small town, and generally our police department has at most two patrol vehicles active at any time. It’s impossible for Kenmore’s law enforcement officers to happen across all parking violations on their own, and reporting by residents is immensely helpful in making sure Kenmore’s parking restrictions are enforceable, and that enforcement is able to discourage future violations. Parking violations will not be addressed by engineering measures except at the request of the Kenmore Police Department; enforcement by KPD is always the first step in resolving issues related to parking violations. Parking violations can be reported to the police by following the non-emergency report instructions on our website: https://www.kenmorewa.gov/i-want-to/report-a-concern

The City of Kenmore takes the risk of crashes and the risk of severe or fatal crash injury very seriously. The City’s engineering department evaluates crash risk and crash severity through analysis of the crash history on City streets, as well as through the identification of high-risk features, or precursors to crash risk even in areas where severe crashes have not yet occurred, such as elevated travel speeds or frequent pedestrian or cyclist conflicts. Crash history analysis and crash risk analysis are included in the City’s Local Road Safety Plan, which identifies projects which will reduce crash risk and prioritizes those projects in a way that provides the greatest safety improvement with the resources available.

Being able to see and be seen by vehicles in the traffic environment is a critical safety standard for all road users, whether exiting a driveway, navigating an intersection, crossing the street, or any number of other areas where there is a potential for conflicting paths with an oncoming vehicle. When a service request regarding sight line concerns is received for a location where no sight distance study has been conducted recently, the City will conduct a study to evaluate whether travel speeds and sight lines are adequate, and, if not, the City will identify what changes need to be made to meet standards for reasonably safe use of the roadway.

The City of Kenmore collects speed and volume data at over 100 locations each year and maintains a detailed database of travel speed and traffic volume data for all major roads and many neighborhood streets as well. This allows the City to monitor its streets proactively for problematic travel speeds and identify opportunities for traffic calming and speed management projects. Many roads throughout Kenmore do have speeds that are higher than is desired; because budget and staff resources are limited, however, the roads that are prioritized for new projects and traffic calming are those that have the highest safety risk. If there is an issue with problematic travel speeds on a street in Kenmore, it is very likely that the City is already aware of it and working to address the issue as soon as is feasible. If the City receives a service request related to travel speed at a location not near an existing study location, a new study will be scheduled to monitor travel speeds at that location, and travel speed concerns at that location will be prioritized along with all other travel speed concerns throughout the City.

Please visit the Street Parking page for more information.

Police enforce illegally parked vehicles on public streets. Please report illegal parking to King County Sheriff Non-Emergency Dispatch at (206) 296-3311 or report online. City staff does not have the ability to ticket and/or tow illegally parking vehicles.

The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program is currently under review and this FAQ will be updated soon.

Washington State Department of Transportation operates and maintains signals on SR 522 and within 1 block of the highway. More information on the 14 signals within Kenmore, including ownership and maintenance responsibility, visit the Traffic page in Engineering. City staff works closely with King County and WSDOT. Please submit concerns regarding traffic signals directly to the City for review and routing to the appropriate jurisdiction.

Please see the Intersection Sight Distance flyer for more information.

Please see the Maintaining Vegetation and Right of Way Maintenance flyers for more information. Per KMC 12.70.040, maintenance of planting strips, including trees, tree limbs that protrude over the road and sidewalk, shrubbery, weeds, grass or other ground cover, will be the responsibility of the abutting property owner. Vegetation in planting strips will be kept in a condition that does not impair the use by the traveling public of the right of way.

The property owner is responsible for removal. Please visit the Development Service's Trees page for information on tree removal.

Walkways & Waterways is a pedestrian and bicycle safety and waterfront park improvement bond measure that was approved by Kenmore voters on the November 8, 2016 ballot. The measure allows the City to issue bonds to pay for 1) new sidewalks and bike lanes on Juanita Drive and 68th Avenue, from Kenmore’s southern city limit to its northern city limit and 2) public waterfront improvements at Log Boom Park, Rhododendron Park, and Squire’s Landing Park.
You can learn more about Walkways & Waterways and the projects by visiting the Walkways & Waterways page.

The Walkways & Waterways bond measure is the result of the City’s “Imagine Kenmore” public outreach initiative. This initiative began summer 2015 and included a number of public meetings, online interactive methods, and two randomized statistically valid phone surveys to solicit public input on priorities for pedestrian and cyclist safety and park improvements. Results from this outreach effort concluded that sidewalks and bike lanes on major roads and connecting residents with the City’s public waterfront are top priorities. The Walkways & Waterways project list above the results of the outreach effort.

The total cost of the sidewalk, bike lane, and waterfront/open space park improvement projects, including bond issuance costs, is estimated at $19.75 million. View the cost estimates.

Property owners will pay for the projects through increased property taxes for the terms of the bonds (20 years per bond).

When the bond measure passed in 2016, the City estimated that the cost for a median-valued home would be $140.16 per year or $11.68 per month. In 2023, the tax rate for the bond measure is $0.13132 per thousand dollars of assessed value. For a home valued at $1 million, the cost in 2023 is $131.32 or $10.94 per month.

No. The bond payments will be constant over the terms of the bonds, similar to a conventional home mortgage. So if property values go up, the tax rate will go down in order to keep the bond payment constant (Property Values X Tax Rate = Bond Payment). As more properties come onto the tax rolls through new development, the cost will be shared by these new properties, and the annual cost for all property owners will go down slightly.

The bond measure will result in the City issuing bonds (debt) in the amount of $19.75 million. This debt amount will be paid off through increased property tax revenue over the 20-year terms of the bonds. The City of Kenmore currently has no debt obligations.

No. Kenmore incorporated as a city in 1998 and has never placed a tax measure on the ballot, until this proposed measure for the November 2016 ballot.

Projects will be completed over the next seven years:

1. 68th Avenue - Two downtown sidewalk and bike lane segments on 68th Avenue would be constructed in 2019. Because of design and permitting requirements, the remainder of the 68th Avenue improvements would be completed by 2022.
2. Juanita Drive - Due to grant funding cycles as well as right-of-way and permitting requirements, Juanita Drive sidewalk and bike lane improvements will likely be built in segments from 2019 to 2023.
3. Log Boom Park - Waterfront improvements need permit approval from various state and federal agencies. Such approval and associated time for design should result in completion by 2023.
4. Rhododendron Park - The boardwalk, trail, and associated open space enhancements have already undergone substantial permit review. As a result, this project is anticipated to be constructed in 2019, if not sooner.
5. Squire’s Landing Park - Similar to Log Boom Park, waterfront improvements and natural open space enhancements require permit approval from various agencies and should result in project completion by 2023.

The City has limited funding for capital projects, especially of this size. Most of the City’s General Fund and Street Fund budgets pay for operational costs such as public safety services (police, jail, etc.), street maintenance, park and facility maintenance, and administration.

Property taxes pay for services provided by various jurisdictions, including the Northshore School District, the State of Washington, the Northshore Fire District, City of Kenmore, King County, Port of Seattle, and others. Just under 11 percent of your property tax goes to the City of Kenmore. Property taxes received by the City of Kenmore pay for operational costs such as public safety, parks and facility maintenance, code compliance, land use planning, and administration.

Juanita Drive is a corridor of regional significance and should compete well for grant funds. Of all the Walkways & Waterways projects, Juanita Drive is the most well positioned to obtain State and Federal grant funding. The $5 million for Juanita Drive included in the proposed bond measure will serve as a local match for the grant funding, which increases the likelihood of receiving grants for the project.

Costs to maintain new park, bike lane and sidewalk improvements after construction will be added to existing facility maintenance costs. Because the City is already providing maintenance services for these three parks and two roads, the City anticipates an incremental increase in maintenance costs starting in the early 2020’s after project completion. The City is currently conducting a thorough Parks and Public Works maintenance services analysis with the goal of improving and creating efficiencies in the way resources are allocated to park and road maintenance activities. This services analysis will include the future improvements from this bond measure. In addition, general contractors who will construct these improvements will be required to provide plant establishment and warranties for 1-2 years after project completion. Lastly, volunteerism at city parks has grown substantially in recent years and has proven to be a valuable supplement to park maintenance resources. The City’s park volunteer program will continue to grow and will likely help further offset maintenance costs at the three waterfront parks in this bond measure.

Pedestrian and bicycle safety are a top priority of the community and the Kenmore City Council. As a result of several pedestrian and bicycle fatalities in recent years, the city stepped up its efforts to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, including the adoption of a Target Zero program. The Imagine Kenmore process, including statistically valid phone surveys, concluded that our citizens continue to ask for new sidewalks on arterial roadways as a top priority to improve safety. Acting now will take advantage of current construction costs and interest rates before they escalate in the future.

Next to pedestrian and bicycle safety, the Imagine Kenmore process found that citizens have a strong desire to connect the public with the City’s waterfront. In other words, citizens are asking for more opportunities for the public to access Lake Washington and the Sammamish River, and this need has been repeatedly expressed over the years. Current low-interest rates, taking advantage of construction costs before they escalate further, and lead time needed for environmental permitting all contributed to bringing these projects forward for voter consideration this year.

Yes, the bonds can be paid off after 10 years. However, the City is planning to collect property taxes from the taxpayers over 20 years. The City is only allowed to collect property taxes in an amount needed to pay annual debt service, so the City does not anticipate having funds available to retire the bonds prior to the final maturity. However, depending on future interest rates, the City may have an opportunity to refinance the bonds and reduce the amount of taxes collected to pay debt service.

For more information about Walkways and Waterways, contact the following City staff members:

• For sidewalk and bike lane questions: John Vicente, Interim Public Works Director, jvicente@kenmorewa.gov.
• For parks questions: Debbie Bent, Community Development Director, dbent@kenmorewa.gov.
• For financial questions: Joanne Gregory, Finance & Administration Director, jgregory@kenmorewa.gov.
• For all other questions: Rob Karlinsey, City Manager, rkarlinsey@kenmorewa.gov.