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Council discussed during a study session the results of the urban center planning workshop and survey, gave direction on options for future housing policy discussions, and continued a discussion on a new community center. A discussion on the 9th Circuit decision Boise decision was postponed.
Urban Center Plan Workshop and Survey Results
Council joined with the Burien Planning Commission to receive a briefing on the Urban Center Plan. City staff are developing a plan for Burien’s urban center in order to comply with the Puget Sound Regional Council’s requirements for regional growth urban centers. Burien is one of 27 urban centers in the four-county Puget Sound region.
Staff, with help from MIG Design, have engaged in a robust engagement process to capture the community’s vision for Burien’s urban center over the next 20 years. This engagement process included a community advisory committee, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, a public visioning workshop, and a survey. Another visioning workshop will be scheduled later this spring or early summer.
MIG Design and City staff presented the results of the community engagement efforts to Council and the Planning Commission. These findings will be incorporated into a vision for the urban center plan, which will be presented to Council in September.
Housing Policy
Staff provided Council an update on a proposed staff work program to support affordable housing for low and middle income people in Burien. Council provided direction for future discussions on the topic of housing. Some of the topics on the proposed work program include:
- Significant efforts are being made to update housing policies within the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
- City Manager Wilson serves as Vice-Chair of the South King Housing and Homelessness Partnership. SKHHP staff will be conducting a housing needs assessment, which will provide important data to guide future housing policymaking.
- Amendments to zoning regulations to provide incentives and opportunities for affordable housing.
- Staff will present both short and long term options for Council to consider at a future meeting.
- View the future housing policy presentation.
Community Center
Council continued a discussion on the potential for a new Burien Community Center. Council gave direction to staff to collect more details on what it would take to conduct an evaluation of amenities and cost as well engage the community on what is needed in a new community center. That discussion will be scheduled in the spring.