The City of Burien is moving forward with a zoning proposal aimed at expanding employment opportunities in an area north of South 138th Street to South 128th Street along Des Moines Memorial Drive.
The effort follows adoption of the city’s Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, known as Burien 2044, which outlines plans for future housing and job growth.
City officials say the next step is to implement that plan by preparing zoning proposal alternatives to remove barriers for new and diverse job opportunities while supporting current residents.
The project area, referred to as North of NERA, lies west of Des Moines Memorial Drive between South 128th Street and South 138th Street:
The city plans to work with the community to develop alternative zoning proposals for the area. The Planning Commission will review the proposals and hold a public hearing before making a recommendation to the Burien City Council, which will take final action to amend the municipal code and official zoning map.
According to the city, Burien needs new zoning to accommodate job targets set by King County and to meet long term goals outlined in Burien 2044. The Comprehensive Plan calls for 4,770 net new jobs over the next 20 years.
City documents state that the area’s proximity to Sea-Tac Airport and existing industrial zoning makes it less suitable for large scale housing development. Instead, officials say the area is better suited for expanded employment opportunities that are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
Past city planning efforts in 1997, 2010 and 2024 demonstrated interest in expanding industrial land uses in the area. The NERA planning study began in 1997, with a redevelopment plan and implementation strategy adopted in 2010. One goal of the current project is to rename the area in partnership with the community based on a preferred alternative.
The city says prior engagement efforts highlighted a strong desire for environmental protections and careful consideration of existing neighborhoods as part of any zoning changes.
How to Give Feedback or Learn More
Residents can participate by attending Planning Commission meetings, reviewing meeting packets published online, watching for mailed updates to property owners within the project area, or emailing project contact Chaney Skadsen, senior planner, at chaneys@burienwa.gov.
Residents can stay updated and provide feedback on the NERA Rezone project in the following ways:
- Visit the city’s Community Hub project page for the most up-to-date information and see the new Frequently Asked Questions section.
- Email a planner with your questions: chaneys@burienwa.gov.
- Tune into the Planning Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. or rewatch after on burienwa.gov/tv
- Subscribe to the Shape Your City email list to follow implementation of the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan.
According to the project timeline, community feedback will be solicited through winter 2026, with the Planning Commission expected to select a preferred alternative in spring 2026 and City Council review and adoption anticipated in summer 2026.
Everyone needs to look at the Google Map / Satellite view of this proposed growth area and see how little actual undeveloped land still exists. Does Burien just expect all those homeowners to just sell out and make way for warehouses because of King County’s grandiose wish list for job creation? More like just a tax grab by both the City and K.C.
The area is “better suited” for business than for apartment buildings? It IS family residences, and absolutely is BEST suited for exactly what it is. North SeaTac Park is right there with ball fields and a BMX track. Leave them alone. Using your British business ethic of an ever-expanding economy to advance this agenda is corruption.
Whether it be suited for residential or business please let the private sector decide through supply & demand.
This is ALL family houses. 264 homes and residents and we DO NOT need any industrial zoning or businesses pushing people out. This whole neighborhood is filled with families who care about their treed yards full of kids, some of whom have lived in for decades if not generations. That will be destroyed with this attempt at profiteering proposal. Not to mention a nightmare for the fragile wetlands and the very widely used park by all the local schools and residents.
I’ve got a proposal that businesses can make use of the too many empty business buildings filed down each side of 1st avenue. Or maybe, sidewalks? There’s room for improvement everywhere here without destroying what’s good.
http://www.change.org/NoNERAproject
☝️Oppose rezoning our neighborhood to industrial Business over 264 homes in Boulevard Park