City of Burien

The City of Burien's first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in November 1997 following months of town meetings, workshops, and public hearings. The plan has been amended several times since then, most recently in 2022.

The plan is based on the Burien Vision, an expression by the community of what the community should be in 20 years. The plan also reflects the goals and guidelines of Washington's 1990 Growth Management Act.

Plan Concepts

The plan has several major concepts, summarized as follows:

• Creation of a sustainable community (a community that is socially, economically, and environmentally healthy).
• Reinforcing Burien's small-town character and sustaining the character of existing neighborhoods.
• Creating a thriving, yet pedestrian friendly downtown.
• Using design guidelines to create a unifying visual environment throughout Burien.
• Accommodating Burien's share of expected countywide growth (both in new housing units and job creation).
• Providing public facilities and services within the City's financial resources.

Annual Amendment Request Process

Burien may amend its Comprehensive Plan once per year. 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 following a recommendation from the Planning Commission. The City did not receive any requests for amendments for the 2023 Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle.

City Council adopted the 2022 Comprehensive Plan amendments on November 7, 2022. The 2022 Comprehensive Plan amendments include the following updates to the Comprehensive Plan:

• Incorporate the 2021 Burien Climate Action Plan by reference.
• Incorporate the 2021 Burien Urban Center Streetscape Plan by reference.
• Revise Policy NQ 1.2 on neighborhood planning to clarify terminology and amend the neighborhood planning process.
• Update Figure 1.1-1, Vicinity Map to accurately reflect Burien city limits as of the most recent annexation.
  

Plan Chapters

• Cover, Table of Contents, and Plan Organization (updated 2020)
• Chapter 1 - Executive Summary (updated 2022)
• Chapter 2 - Plan Policies (updated 2022)
• Chapter 3 - Capital Improvement Programs 
• Chapter 4 - Appendices 
  • 4.1 – Salmon Creek Neighborhood Plan
  • 4.2 – Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan
  • 4.3 – Highline School District Capital Facilities Plan
    
  • 4.4 – SEPA Analysis: 2003 Existing Conditions
    
  • 4.5 – SEPA Analysis: Issues and Impacts
    
• Comprehensive Plan map
  
• Zoning map

Comprehensive Plan Update

The City of Burien is embarking on a major update to its Comprehensive Plan. Learn more about the project on the Burien Community Hub.