The Kirkland Design Review Board voted 5-2 to approved designs for the Aegis Living after meticulous review at their meeting last Monday.

The design update addressed several comments provided by the board at the previous presentation and improved the design, which will still receive some final tweaks by city staff.

The Bellevue-based senior living company Aegis Living purchased the former Lobsang Dargey property in downtown Kirkland for $10.1 million last August and plan to renovate it. The property overlooks Lake Washington at 1006 Lake St. and zoning code requires the ground floor to maintain commercial use.

The proposed property will feature 73 assisted living units,33 memory care units and 80 parking stalls. The only public access will be on the ground floor and throughout the outdoor patio.

According to the presentation, the location will host the Queen Bee Café, which already has a location at one of Aegis’ Seattle locations.

Board members had several concerns about the design, but ultimately approved it and expect minor tweaks that will replace some minor materials and finalize a design for a fence.

As some board members voiced their concerns, attending community members murmured with worry that the design would be further delayed and that the board was over-thinking the project.

Community members praised the updated designs during the public comment period and urged the board to approve.

Steve Calhoon, a local who frequently walks his golden retriever around the area, said he thinks the Aegis team responded well to comments and enjoys the more public plaza.

“They’ve done an amazing job with the design to fit with the community,” echoed Maureen Kelly, who lives a mile south of the property. “It’s going to be a huge asset to the neighborhood … I don’t know what more they could do.”

Jack Rodgers, a local who lives next to the property, complimented the design improvements since August and humorously encouraged the city to begin construction next winter, while he’s out of town.

Currently there’s no planned start date as the project is still in the design phase.

The design features Mediterranean influences and the latest renderings can be found on the city’s website in the Design Review Board’s Dec. 18 agenda.

The next Design Review Board meeting is on Jan. 1.