Comprehensive Plan

The City of Burien's first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in November 1997 following months of city meetings, workshops, and public hearings. The plan has been amended and updated several times since then, most recently in 2024. The Comprehensive Plan establishes Burien’s guiding vision to be a prosperous, equitable, sustainable, resilient, innovative, and safe community where people of diverse backgrounds lead fulfilling lives with friends and family, business and work opportunities, and rich cultural and recreational activities with programs for and by our youth, elders, and all ages. As the city grows, the plan ensures that the quality of life improves for current and future residents.

Burien is a city with over 52,000 residents today having steadily grown from a population of just under 28,000 when first incorporated in 1993. From 2020–2044, the city is anticipated to add almost another 19,000 new residents in 7,500 new households and another 4,770 jobs This 2024 – 2044 Comprehensive Plan considers the voices and needs of the Burien community as we address growth and coordinates capital investments and city functions through the year 2044.

Annual Amendment Request Process

Burien may amend its Comprehensive Plan once per year under regulations of the Growth Management Act, the series of implementing statutes that guide Comprehensive Plan development in Washington State. Requests for amendments must be submitted to the Community Development Department by November 1. The list of amendments that will be considered is established by the City Council by February 1 of each year following a recommendation from the Planning Commission. See Comprehensive Plan Amendments page for more information.