On Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, the Burien City Council met to discuss several key issues impacting the city, ranging from proposed tree removal to amending the city’s Comprehensive Plan and more.

One of the primary topics was the planned removal of six mature trees at Mathison Park by the Port of Seattle. This action, driven by safety requirements for the nearby airport, has sparked concern among residents and council members who question the need for–and impact of–removing large, established trees.

The meeting also addressed the process for amending the city’s Comprehensive Plan, a topic that has drawn significant public feedback. The council moved forward with a plan to address zoning changes in several neighborhoods, marking a significant step in response to community concerns.

Mathison Park Tree Removal

A representative from the Port of Seattle presented plans the Port has to completely remove six mature trees from Mathison Park. Many community members have expressed concerns with the plans, arguing that the park isn’t in the flight path or the jurisdiction of the airport.

However, according to the presentation, all commercial airports are required to maintain a safe path for approach and landing. These trees do fall within the boundary of the “Approach Surface Area” for Sea-Tac Airport’s third runway. This part of the park is in a zone where the trees’ height is predicted to impinge on the safety of planes in the next five years. Their removal was stated to be a proactive step by the Port. They said full removal of trees is the best practice, as topping trees is no longer recommended for the health of the tree itself. Topping is known to lead to rot and unsafe, imbalanced growth.

In exchange for these six trees, the Port will plant 18 five-foot tall trees; nine at the park, and another nine trees throughout the city. These trees will be selected in collaboration with Burien’s Urban Forest Planner Josh Petter, who said the focus is on a variety of trees that will do well in our climate and won’t grow to a height that will be problematic in the future. The Port will monitor and maintain these trees for two years. Petter said that due to increasingly hot summers, three years would be more effective for making sure the trees are fully established enough to survive, but that two years is what the city code requires.

Councilmembers Linda Akey and Hugo Garcia, along with Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore, expressed dismay and concern with these mature trees being exchanged for small trees that will take decades to sequester a similar amount of carbon, or provide as much shade and cooling. They also worried that two years of maintenance is not enough to ensure the trees’ survival. Public commenters expressed similar concerns, saying that the Port should do more.

Councilmembers also mentioned Burien’s tree giveaway, which comes to a close today, 9/23. Homeowners who would like to plant up to two free trees can use this link to apply. Trees will be ready for pickup on Oct. 18 at Hilltop Park.

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process

Public commenters spoke at this meeting, as well as several prior meetings, about Burien’s critical shoreline areas being incorrectly zoned, and asked that this flawed zoning be amended. To address these concerns, staff gave a presentation on the process for amending the Comp Plan, which has been the basis for the zoning changes. The periodic update for the Comp Plan was completed last October, after much public engagement. The land use designation for the Comp Plan was translated into zoning changes that were enacted early this year.

According to the presentation, the Comp Plan can be amended in one of two ways. Any property owner can submit a request for a pre-approval meeting by Oct. 1, with a final application due Nov. 3. In addition, the city can initiate an update once a year, which will go through the same application process as the private initiative.

Once submitted, any proposals would be discussed at the Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 10, and come back to the council on Jan. 12, 2026. They would be discussed again by the Planning Commission in spring of 2026, and then come back for council approval in the fall. To date, the city has not received any requests for private initiative applications.

Councilmember Stephanie Mora proposed a city-initiated update to the Comp Plan which would amend the zoning at critical areas in the Three Tree Point, Lake Burien, and Seahurst neighborhoods. This passed in a 5–2 vote, with Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore and Councilmember Hugo Garcia opposed.