What is the process of amending the Comprehensive Plan—and who will pay for it? Attend July 23 to find out.
BURIEN, WA — Burien residents, especially from Lake Burien, Three Tree Point, Seahurst, and Hurstwood, are being urged to attend the upcoming Burien Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. to stay informed and involved in the evolving discussion around neighborhood zoning and the 2044 Comprehensive Plan.
At issue are recent zoning changes that reclassify traditional single-family residential neighborhoods, many in environmentally critical and shoreline areas, as R-2 or R-3, allowing up to 6–7 houses per lot. Many residents expected the City Council to hold a meeting in July to clarify how a Comprehensive Plan Amendment process would unfold in 2026. That meeting will not occur.
Instead, the Burien City Council will not meet again until September 8. At the July 14 council meeting, rather than offering a full presentation, City Manager Adolfo Bailon gave a brief verbal update. He outlined how the city plans to improve public notification and community outreach in response to Council direction during the June 30 vote to adopt Ordinance 868 (which modified the Housing Code and Zoning Map).
What the City Promised:
- Comp Plan Amendment application notice to be published July 31 (a month earlier than usual)
- Public outreach workshops scheduled for August 19
- More social media updates to inform the public and potential amendment applicants
Yet as of now, details about the August 19 workshop remain unclear, and no meeting has been officially announced regarding how the Comp Plan Amendment process will work.
July 23 Planning Commission Meeting Details:
- Date & Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
- In-Person Location: Burien City Hall, 1st floor, (400 SW 152nd St)
- Virtual Access: Join via Zoom
- View-only options: Channel 21 or Livestream at https://bit.ly/3LD9yxa
- Contact: micheleb@burienwa.gov or (206) 248-5510
- AGENDA / AGENDA PACKET
If you wish to speak at the meeting, sign up in person at the door. To submit written comments, email planningcommission@burienwa.gov at least one week in advance (Attention: Michele Barrera, Planning Admin. Asst.).
Why This Matters:
Residents in shoreline and single-family neighborhoods are concerned about increased density, potential impacts on infrastructure and environment, and the lack of clarity about who will lead or fund a Comp Plan amendment—a process that typically requires thousands of dollars and professional assistance.
In the past, when the City has initiated amendments to correct planning errors, it has covered the application cost. It’s unknown whether the same will happen now, or if neighborhoods will be expected to bear that burden.
What You Can Do Now:
- Attend all Planning Commission meetings to stay informed
- Submit public comments outlining your concerns and desired changes
- Contact your City Council members (See below for emails)
- Ask the Planning Department to clarify when and where any upcoming meetings will address the Comp Plan Amendment process
Community vigilance is essential. If residents want their voices heard regarding the future of their neighborhoods, now is the time to act.
Have information on the August 19 outreach workshops? Contact The Burien News so neighbors can mark their calendars.
Planning Commission Agenda – 23 July 2025:
ROLL CALL
AGENDA CONFIRMATION
APPROVAL OF MINUTES (June 25, 2025 meeting)
PUBLIC COMMENT
(3 Comments were already submitted:)
BUSINESS AGENDA
Critical Area Ordinance Briefing #3 – FACET, Consultants; Amanda McIntire, Planner
- Cover Memo – Critical Area Ordinance Update Introduction
- Attachment 1 – PLA-21-1562 Critical Area Determination
- Attachment 2 – Civil sheets
- Attachment 3 – Critical Areas Study and Mitigation Plan
- Attachment 4 – Burien Gap Analysis_DRAFT
- Attachment 5 – Burien BAS Report_FINAL
- Attachment 6 – Facet Background Memo
NEW BUSINESS
PLANNING COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
- SEPT 10, 2025
- SEPT 24, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
3 Responses
It ia pretty clear at this point the City Staff and no interest in any input from the citizens they serve. They are not elected and the City Council does not have the intelligence or the fortitude to challenge them. I have no confidence this radical zoning will be stopped in the short term. So we need to play the long game. Fortunately the home building industry is shambles and likely going to get stalled for a few years which buys us a little time. The city council needs to be replaced. We need to mobilize and build a slate of strong leaders to take back the city. This will take 4-6 years because the new candidates are not better than the existing candidates. Once a majority of council seats are occupied with capable leaders the City Manager needs to be replaced. Once that is complete the City manager needs to be given a mandate to clean house in the Planning Department and rid it of the non resident activists. It will take time and perseverance and patience but this the only way to stop the radicals that have overtaken our City.
I no longer see the Aug 19th workshop listed on the city of Burien calendar. Hopefully an error?
Sounds like a great question to ask at the Planning Commission meeting tonight.