The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by verified Burien shoreline residents who requested anonymity.
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Burien.News or Daniel Media. If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.]
We, as residents of the Lake Burien shoreline community wrote to Representative Tina L. Orwall, M.S.W., regarding zoning changes adopted through the 2044 Comprehensive Plan and the 2025 Housing & Zoning Addendum.
In her response below, Rep. Orwall made clear that Burien’s Planning Department, Planning Commission, and City Council went significantly beyond what is required for a Tier 2 city under Housing Bill (HB) 1110.
This overreach has also created an inconsistency with the Shoreline Master Plan (SMP), which is not permitted under the Growth Management Act (GMA). These issues provide solid grounds for an amendment to the 2044 Burien Comprehensive Plan as well as to the 2025 Zoning Code.
Because this massive overreach and inconsistency problem was not caused by Burien residents—or residents of the shorelines—the City should reasonably bear the cost of filing for such an amendment. A representative group from the Burien shorelines has requested a meeting with the City Manager and the Mayor to discuss both the letter and the issue of amendment funding. To date, neither individual has responded.
The only way this amendment can be placed on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket is if:
- A City Councilmember makes a motion to add it to the docket, with costs covered by the City, and the Council votes to approve; or
- A Planning Commissioner proposes placing it on the docket, with costs covered by the City, and the Planning Commission votes to approve, before recommending the Council do the same.
Ultimately, the City Council must vote to approve placing the amendment on the docket, and later vote to correct the overreach and inconsistency errors.The inconsistencies with the SMP must be corrected by law. The land use and zoning overreach must also be corrected for the economic well-being of Burien residents. These errors:
- Risk increasing Burien property taxes beyond what other Tier 2 cities in Washington are required to bear.
- Will cause excessive costs to infrastructure development that are not required for Tier 2 cities.
- Place undue economic pressure on the Highline School District for development not currently mandated.
- Increase costs for police, fire, and emergency services.
- Threaten environmental damage to Burien’s shorelines.
For these reasons, residents of the Burien shorelines are asking all Burien residents to attend or Zoom into the City Council meeting on September 8, 2025, or to send a letter to the Council urging that this costly and unnecessary overreach—beyond the legal requirements of HB 1110 and embedded in the 2044 Comprehensive Plan and the 2025 Housing & Zoning Addendum—be amended as soon as possible.Email addresses for the Council:
Council members-council@burienwa.gov
Mayor of Burien-kevins@burienwa.gov
Stephanie Mora-stephaniem@burienwa.gov
Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore-sarahm@burienwa.gov
Alex Andrade-alexa@burienwa.gov
Linda Akey-lindaa@burienwa.gov
Jimmy Matta-jimmym@burienwa.gov
Hugo Garcia-hugog@burienwa.govSincerely,
Residents of the Burien Shorelines
Full Letter from Tina Orwall
On Aug 20, 2025, at 1:15 PM, Sen. Tina Orwall Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov wrote:
Dear [Burien Resident],
Thank you for reaching out about Burien’s rezoning plan and HB 1110 (2023). I appreciate you sharing this information with me and apologize for the delay in responding to you.
I consulted with our Housing Committee staff with expertise on HB 1110, and would like to share their response with you:
Committee Staff Response:
“HB 1110 requires cities to provide by ordinance and incorporate into zoning regulations and other controls authorization for a minimum number of units on each residential lot by 6 months after their required comprehensive plan update (which would be June 30, 2025 for cities in King County).
Under HB 1110, Burien is a Tier 2 city that must allow at least 2 units per lot with a bonus of up to 4 units within ¼ mile of a major transit stop or when one unit is affordable housing. Based on the information in the Ordinance (No. 868) it appears that the city went beyond these requirements. Below are two excerpts from the document that pertain to some of the issues referenced by the constituent:
- “In response, the city has developed three new residential zones (R-1, R-2, and R-3) to replace the existing residential single-family zones (RS-A, RS 12,000 and RS 7,200). Each of the proposed zones fulfill the requirements for a Tier 2 city. The proposed R-2 and R-3 zones exceed minimum density requirements under HB 1110 for a Tier 1 city, while the proposed R-3 zone is designed to just meet the Tier 1 standards under HB 1110.” (top of page 4)
- “Following the definition for ‘Major Transit Stop’ would have resulted in only the King County Metro Bus Rapid Transit Lines H and F and Sound Transit 560 routes being considered as Major Transit Stops. The Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendments proposal introduces a new definition to expand the applicability across Burien beyond this narrow definition. Proposed definition for Burien zoning code: 19.10.431 Qualified Public Transit Stop – Public transit stops that satisfy any of the following: (1) meets the ‘major transit stop’ definition under RCW Chapter 81.104. (2) stops served by a transit route that runs at least two times an hour for twelve or more hours each weekday or more.” (bottom of page 7)
The Department of Commerce has a quick guide and other information on their middle housing webpage that provides more detail specific to the bill and its implementation, including links to model ordinances that Commerce developed as well as other resources that assist local jurisdictions in developing regulations.You are correct, HB 1110 applies to housing, not businesses. In addition to the changes in residential zones for housing, the ordinance also includes neighborhood commercial language which appears to be new language (See page 71) with the stated purpose of providing standards that foster a vibrant and amenity-rich community, enhance neighborhood quality, promote walkability, support the creation of small-scale, locally serving businesses, and ensure the compatible integration of limited commercial uses and services within the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones. This part of the ordinance may be a component of the city’s comprehensive planning process, since that process includes additional elements besides housing (the Municipal Research and Services Center has an overview of comprehensive planning that lists the various elements if that is helpful), but it was not part of HB 1110.
There were a few bills last session that went through the Local Government committee (HB 1175 & SB 5421) that were specific to allowing small business establishments in residential zones, but neither bill passed.
More information specific to Burien’s comprehensive plan can be found on their website. It looks like the constituent is already engaging with the city, but there is a community hub that has some additional resources that may be useful as well.”
Closing:
I hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you again for contacting me and for your advocacy on this important issue.
Sincerely,
TinaRepresentative Tina L. Orwall, M.S.W.
33rd Legislative District
tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov
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