New Housing and More Inclusive Neighborhoods: Preservation, Design, and Form-based Codes

Session 7D | Thursday | 1:00 – 2:15 PM PT

Presentation PDF
About the Session

Cities throughout the Pacific Northwest have ambitious targets for meeting their housing needs. However, one of the key challenges for adding more housing is the relationship between the existing character of the neighborhood and the design of new housing. New housing is often at a higher density, uses new materials, and reflects the economics of maximizing development potential. Over the last two years, Kirkland has developed a new form-based code as a complement to their ambitious NE 85th St Station Area Plan. This form-based code takes the best practices from form-based codes nationally and calibrates it for a Washington State and Kirkland context. This session is intended for planners and others who are looking for innovative ways to balance new housing production with neighborhood character. It will start with a brief overview of form-based codes, how the City of Kirkland calibrated their code to the local policy context, specific examples of how the code reflects community input, and lessons learned. Following a 20 min presentation, the moderator will use the remaining time to engage in a Q&A with the City participants as well as attendees who can share their own lessons learned or questions. As part of this session, we will prepare summary materials that attendees can use to inform their own decision-making process about how and when to use form-based codes and other design regulations in their work.

About the Moderator

Brad Barnett, AICP Candidate
Mithun

Brad Barnett is an Associate Principal at Mithun with over a decade of experience working a range of clients to create strategies that reimagine urban districts. Brad's work bringing a unique mix of urban design, data-driven strategy and a context-sensitive approach to neighborhood development. Recent work includes station area planning in Kirkland WA and urban design strategies to support the West Seattle to Ballard Link Extension.

About the Speakers

Alison Zike AICP
City of Kirkland

Allison Zike, AICP is a senior planner at the City of Kirkland, where she's worked on a number of complex projects including the NE 85th St Station Area Plan and the City of Kirkland's Missing Middle Housing Legislation.

Anne Aurelia Fritzel, AICP
Washington State Department of Commerce

Anne Fritzel, AICP, is the Housing Programs Manager with Growth Management Services, at the Washington State Department of Commerce.  Anne oversees the development of guidance for implementing new housing-related planning requirements, including substantial changes to the housing element, three housing grant programs, and the multifamily tax exemption program. Before joining Commerce, Anne worked for local governments in British Columbia, in Washington State, specializing in transportation planning and urban design.  Anne has a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Queen’s University, in Ontario, Canada. 

Nicholas Vann, AIA
Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

Nicholas Vann currently serves as the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for Washington State. As a licensed architect, he has advised hundreds of historic rehabilitation projects throughout Washington. He previously worked in the private sector in New Orleans, where he earned a Master’s degrees in both Architecture and Preservation Studies from Tulane University. He currently oversees several preservation program areas and serves on several policy committees relating to underrepresented communities, building codes, and seismic vulnerability. He is also deeply immersed in conversations and initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in both state government and in the historic preservation field

Chris Moore
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

Chris Moore is the Executive Director for the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.  Established in 1976, the WA Trust is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to safeguarding Washington’s historic places through advocacy, education, stewardship and collaboration.  As Executive Director, Chris works statewide with local communities engaged in efforts to preserve those historic and cultural resources that enrich our environment and add to Washington’s unique sense of place.

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