Residents are invited to help shape the future of housing in Burien at a Community Open House this Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Burien Library Multipurpose Room/City Council Chambers.
Hosted by city planning staff, the open house will provide information and answer questions about the city’s proposed Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendment project — a key part of implementing the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan.
The amendments aim to support equitable housing growth, reduce displacement, eliminate development barriers, and comply with recent state legislation.
Following the open house, community members are encouraged to attend the Burien Planning Commission meeting, which will include public comment and a hearing on the proposal.
The meeting will be held in person and on Zoom, and the agenda is available here.
“The City of Burien worked with the community to re-imagine the long-term future of our city through a coordinated planning effort combining major updates to the Comprehensive Plan, a new Transportation Master Plan, an update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, and new Economic Development Action Plan,” the city said in a statement.
The effort is part of Shape Your City, a coordinated initiative to update the city’s long-term vision through its Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Parks and Recreation Plan, and Economic Development Action Plan.
More information is available by contacting syc@burienwa.gov.
After the open house, you are invited to attend the Planning Commission meeting and share your thoughts during the public comment and public hearing portion of the meeting. The agenda is now available online. https://t.co/yc7wdpklDq 3/3
— City of Burien, WA (@Burien) April 30, 2025
Would have been nice to provide a bit more notice than 24 hours of the open house by the planning commission. I did not see this it until it was nearly over. Wonder how many others missed it too.
make no mistake … the late notice is by design….
I attended the open house and the planning commission meeting. I really do not understand the rationale by the planning department for up zoning so many Burien neighborhoods. Burien is already one of the most densely populated cities in King County. In the zoning update R1 designation (6,000 sq ft per lot, 3 units per lot) i , by their own rules, specifically for environmentally sensitive areas such as shore line, wet lands etc. They also shared in their presentation that R3 (3,000 sq ft lot, with 7 units per lot !) is “above and beyond what is required by state law”. And then they change the zoning map to R3 for 75% of Lake Burien with the other 25% at R2) which is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the city, along with a section of Three Tree Point along the shore line at R3 as well. Their rational was that “it was close to transit” …… ? and ignore all of their own existing critical codes ? Even some of the planning commissioners were not in agreement on this up zoning but the staff remain unchecked.
In addition, all of the charming Craftsman style multiplexes illustrated are not even close to what is being built. What is being built is ugly, tall, shed roof boxes, which are quick and cheap to build and will still be unaffordable or most people. Who is in charge of this circus ?