Alternative proposal to Shoreline Master Program on docket for Monday Council

Burien’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) will be the sole item on the agenda for Monday night’s City Council Study Session starting at 7 p.m. April 22 at City Hall. The updated draft documents... [Read more]

BREAKING: Agreement Possible In Standoff Over Burien’s Shoreline Plan

by Ralph Nichols A compromise agreement that could end the standoff over Burien’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) may be in the works. City Councilman Gordon Shaw asked at the end of the council’s Oct.... [Read more]

City Council Rejects Shoreline Buffer/Setback Requested by Dept. of Ecology

by Ralph Nichols Burien City Council members drew a line in the sand Monday night (May 9). They won’t adopt four amendments to the updated Burien Shoreline Master Program (SMP), as requested recently... [Read more]

City Council To Review State’s Demands For Changes In Local Shoreline Plan

by Ralph Nichols Last summer, when Burien City Council members were updating the local Shoreline Master Program (SMP), the state Department of Ecology never defined “no net loss of ecological function”... [Read more]

Burien’s Controversial Shoreline Program Moves Toward Ecology Approval

On Thursday (April 28th), the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) announced that it has approved nearly all parts of Burien’s recently updated (and controversial) Shoreline Master Program,... [Read more]

No Evidence Offered At Hearing That Larger Buffers Better Protect Waterfront

by Ralph Nichols If there was really any question about the primary focus of state regulators as they review Burien’s updated Shoreline Master Program (SMP), it was settled at Wednesday night’s (Dec.8)... [Read more]

Burien Homeowners, Ecology At Odds Over Shoreline Buffers At Hearing

by Ralph Nichols It didn’t take long for homeowners along Burien’s marine shoreline to have their concerns confirmed at a Dec. 8 public hearing by the Department of Ecology on the city’s recently... [Read more]

Ecology’s Public Hearing On Updated Burien Shoreline Plan Is Tonight

by Ralph Nichols Burien waterfront homeowners could hear for the first time at a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 8) what state regulators think about the city’s recently updated... [Read more]

Ecology Starts Review Of Burien’s Shoreline Master Program; Hearing Dec. 8th

On a day when parts of Burien’s shoreline were battered so hard by a storm that at least one house has been condemned, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) announced that it is seeking... [Read more]

Burien City Council Adopts Updated Shoreline Plan, Ending 2-Year Process

by Ralph Nichols Burien City Council members approved a revised Shoreline Master Program (SMP – link here) on a 6-1 vote at their Sept. 27 meeting. Councilman Gordon Shaw, who said “what we’ve... [Read more]

Burien City Council Expected To Approve Revised Shoreline Plan Tonight

by Ralph Nichols If, as anticipated, the city council adopts an updated Shoreline Master Program (SMP) for Burien tonight (Monday, Sept. 27), its final approval will mark the end of an arduous two-year... [Read more]

Burien City Council Likely To Approve Updated Shoreline Plan Sept. 27

by Ralph Nichols Burien City Council members agreed on Monday night (Sept. 13) to place adoption of an updated and revised Shoreline Master Program (SMP) on the consent calendar for their next regular... [Read more]

Lake Burien Homeowners Look For Changes In Shoreline Regulations

by Ralph Nichols Third of four parts. Much of the recent comment on proposed revisions to Burien’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP), by city council members and the public alike, has focused on developed... [Read more]

Burien Council To Hold Final SMP Discussion Monday Night Starting At 6pm

by Ralph Nichols Burien City Council members are set for what they anticipate will be their final discussion on Monday, Sept. 13, of updated shoreline regulations before adopting a revised Shoreline Master... [Read more]

Council Extends Consideration Of New Shoreline Plan To Sept. 20

by Ralph Nichols Adoption of Burien’s revised Shoreline Master Program (SMP), which was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 13 after an earlier postponement, will be delayed at least one more week. City... [Read more]

Issues Ranging From Science To Property Underscore City Council Agenda

by Ralph Nichols About 260 cities, counties and other local jurisdictions in Washington are under requirement by the state Department of Ecology to update their Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) by 2014. All... [Read more]

Toxic Algae Found In Lake Burien By King County Water Resource Staff

A toxic blue-green algae bloom was recently discovered in Lake Burien, but may not be visible in this panoramic photo (click to see larger image). Photo taken Aug. 12, 2010 by Scott Schaefer. by Scott... [Read more]

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Lake Burien – Public Or Private?

Lake Burien is a public lake currently serving as a private playground for a privileged few who live on the lake. At the last Burien City Council meeting the council made sure that party boats for the... [Read more]

Council’s Draft Of Proposed Shoreline Master Program Now Available Online

On Monday (Aug. 23) the city released the Burien City Council’s “Public Hearing Draft” of the proposed Shoreline Master Program, which is now available online here. We encourage all... [Read more]

Two Views Of Council Decision To Retain 20-Foot Buffer For Shoreline Homes

by Ralph Nichols Burien shoreline residents living along Puget Sound are pleased with the city council’s Aug. 16 decision to keep the existing 20-foot setback for homes and other structures. But not... [Read more]

REMINDER: City Council’s Special Meeting Is At 6pm Monday, Aug. 16th

Because of some recent confusion over start times, we’d like to remind our Readers that the Burien City Council’s special meeting on Monday, Aug. 16, will begin at a special time – 6... [Read more]

Burien City Council Postpones Shoreline Master Program Hearing To Aug. 30

by Ralph Nichols When the Burien City Council convenes again, lawmakers will get a chance at last for an extended public discussion among themselves of the city’s Shoreline Master Program. During their... [Read more]

City Council Postpones Hearing On Shoreline Master Program To Aug. 30

Faced with the reality of too much detail to process in just two weeks, Burien council members agreed Monday night (Aug. 2) to delay a public hearing on draft revisions updating the city’s Shoreline... [Read more]

Burien Council To Review City Manager’s Revised Shoreline Document Tonight

by Ralph Nichols First the Shoreline Advisory Committee proposed significant changes to Burien’s Shoreline Management Program. Then came revisions made by the Planning Commission during a three-month... [Read more]