Share your feedback! What kind of themes, art styles, and focus do you want to see in the murals? Please take this quick survey by Tuesday, April 21 to share your thoughts and help us shape a more colorful, connected Burien.
The Economic Development Division has been granted a one-time award of $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to invest in beautifying commercial areas, creating a sense of community, and inviting locals and tourists alike to visit Burien for the art and stay to support our businesses!
In partnership with Urban Artworks, we are installing twelve high-quality professionally created murals at several commercial corridors in Burien.
This place making initiative would further identify Burien as a community that is built upon and driven by the arts, create tourism opportunities, and discourage graffiti in repeat locations of high visibility to the community and visitors. The aim of the program would be to improve and enhance economic viability by attracting visitors, customers, and residents to various commercial districts of Burien.
Get Involved
Your feedback is important:
Share your input! What kind of themes, art styles, and focus do you want to see in the murals? Please take this quick survey by Tuesday, April 21 to share your thoughts and help us shape a more colorful, connected Burien.
The City of Burien recently adopted the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update which plans for future housing and future jobs in the community. Now the City is implementing the Comprehensive Plan by preparing a zoning proposal to remove barriers for new and diverse job opportunities and support current residents. The City will work with the community to develop new zoning proposal alternatives for the area north of South 138th Street to South 128th Street along Des Moines Memorial Drive. The goal of this engagement process is for the community to inform the alternative zoning proposals for the project area for Planning Commission and consideration by the Burien City Council.
Get Involved
Your feedback is important:
Email us! Share questions and comments directly using the project contact email on this page.
Attend Planning Commission Meetings! Meeting schedules and materials are posted online.
Watch for mailers! Every property owner within the project area will receive updates.
Upcoming Events
This project will be presented and shared publicly throughout the process. The Planning Commission will be briefed on the project and hold a public hearing where they will make a recommendation to the City Council. Final action to amend the Burien Municipal Code and Official Zoning Map will be made by the City Council. This section will be updated frequently with scheduled meetings and links to the meeting packets.
Planning Commission meeting packets are typically published online one week in advance of the meeting.
Past City of Burien planning efforts in 1997, 2010, and 2024 demonstrated an interest in expanding industrial land uses in this area. The Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) planning study began in 1997, with a Redevelopment Plan and Implementation Strategy adopted in 2010. Because of these efforts, the area is currently referred to as “North of NERA”. However, one goal of this project is to rename the project area in partnership with the community based on the preferred alternative.
The project area is between South 128th Street and South 138th Street, west of Des Moines Memorial Drive.
Project Timeline
Summer 2025
Project Starts
Fall 2025
Early Engagement and Research
Winter 2026
Solicit Community Feedback
Spring 2026
Planning Commission Selects Preferred Alternative
Summer 2026
City Council Review and Adoption
The Economic Development Division has been granted a one-time award of $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help expand healthy food access in the Boulevard Park neighborhood. We are interested in funding a community-led solution that will provide a meaningful starting point for expanding healthy food access to residents of Boulevard Park.
Get Involved
Your feedback is important:
Attend an event. Periodically, Economic Development staff will be out in the community for you to provide your feedback and ask questions.
Complete a Request for Proposal. The City of Burien is requesting proposals from qualified organizations who can assist the City in providing fresh produce and food options in the Boulevard Park neighborhood commercial core. Residents expressed interest in providing more fresh produce, grocery store staples, and culturally relevant food options in the commercial core. Applications are due April 22, 2026
Burien residents living in the Boulevard Park neighborhood have experienced limited access to healthy and diverse options for many years. In May 2019, the neighborhood’s Thriftway grocery store closed. The store owner went to great lengths to attract another grocery store to take over the space, but was unsuccessful. This project seeks to empower community members to identify meaningful starting points to expand healthy food access in Boulevard Park.
Funding Source
The Burien City Council approved a plan in September 2022 to invest $10.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds to help Burien bounce back faster from pandemic-related impacts. $1.7 million was directed to economic development initiatives. Some of these one-time funds are being used for this project.
Community Engagement
City of Burien economic development staff introduced the Healthy Food Access in Boulevard Park project at Boulevard Park Library on May 28, 2025 during the City Chat with the City Manager monthly event. Economic Development Manager Chris Craig gave a brief overview of the division and the funding. Administrative Assistant Emma Nielsen introduced the healthy food access project and facilitated a discussion with community members. Eight Burien residents were in attendance, with a majority living in Boulevard Park. Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore and Councilmember Hugo Garcia were in attendance. All participants contributed to a rich discussion regarding the current state of healthy food access in Boulevard Park, and discussed a wide variety of potential solutions to expanding healthy food access in the area.
Based on the discussion, it appears that residents would appreciate the following criteria for expanding healthy food access:
Requirements: walkable, minimum frequency of once per week, consistency so folks can plan (food security), mindful about naming and language (accessible and translated language), and outreach to be inclusive and welcoming.
Would like to include elements of sustainability and activation, including: community gathering, resource sharing, and local artist engagement.
The Economic Development Division created an online survey and is attending Boulevard Park Block Party on August 23, 2025 to continue gathering more feedback from Boulevard Park residents to inform the community preference for the direction of this project.
Project Timeline
September 2022
Council Approves Funding
The Burien City Council approved Economic Development Initiatives for $1.7M, of which $50,000 in ARPA funding may be invested to expand healthy food access in the Boulevard Park neighborhood.
April 2025
Work Group Formed
Economic Development Division staff meet with a work group composed of City of Burien staff, a City Councilmember, a Boulevard Park resident, and a founder of a non-profit, to become more informed about Boulevard Park and to brainstorm solutions and outreach methods for the project.
May 2025
Project Introduced
The Coffee Chat with the City Manager event at the Boulevard Park Library Branch, promoted on social media channels, was used to introduce the Healthy Food Access project and to gather feedback from residents about healthy food access in the Boulevard Park neighborhood.
August 2025
Survey Launches
The Economic Development Division will launch a digital survey to solicit further feedback from a larger percentage of residents in the Boulevard Park neighborhood who were unable to attend the Coffee Chat with the City Manager event to assess their needs and ideas for addressing this issue.
March-April 2026
Request for Proposals
The Economic Development Division plans to launch a request for proposals and disperse funding to the awardee of the chosen community focus to address healthy food access.
Under Washington State Law, all counties and cities are required to conduct a periodic review and update their critical areas regulations in accordance with RCW 36.70A.130. The City of Burien’s Community Development Department updated the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) as a part of implementing Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan and as required by the Growth Management Act.
The Critical Area Ordinance Amendments go into effect on December 30, 2025. See the official zoning map and a clean version of the code amendments here until the online BMC is updated.
Use the Interactive map to see if your property is located within a critical area.
As a part of the Comprehensive Plan update, and as required by the Growth Management Act (GMA), the City reviewed and updated its policies and regulations around critical areas. The Critical Areas Ordinance (BMC 19.40) was last updated in 2015 and must be evaluated and revised every 10 years. With this periodic review update, we provided an opportunity to ensure the City of Burien’s Critical Areas regulations are consistent with federal and state policies and incorporate the best available science related to conservation and natural hazards while also reviewing for administrative efficiencies. This update looked at the best available science and existing conditions, and ensured any proposed amendments were scientifically supported, being both acceptable to Washington State regulators and Burien residents.
What are Critical Areas?
RCW 36.70A.030(11) defines five types of critical areas, which are required to be protected by local development regulations. The five critical areas are as follows:
RCW 36.70A.172 requires all counties and cities in Washington to include “the best available science in developing policies and development regulations to protect function and values of critical area”.
In order to protect the functions and values of critical areas, scientifically valid information should be provided to assist in the discussion and decision-making process in how to best protect each critical area. To include the best available science, the development of critical area regulations requires a record of scientific rational for the policy decisions that maintain the protection of the functions and values of critical areas. To meet the requirements of Washington State Law, the City hired a technical consultant to review the latest scientific data and research to update Burien’s Critical Areas code.
Project Timeline
Mid 2025
Phase 1: Public Outreach and Engagement
Developed and implemented a community engagement strategy to reach community members and other key stakeholders for the CAO update.
2025
Phase 2: Analysis & Review
WAC 365-195-900 requires cities and counties to include “best available science when developing policies and development regulations to protect the functions and values of critical areas”. Scientifically-valid information helped with the evaluation of the existing conditions and informed the CAO updates. City staff worked closely with the consultant team to analyze and review the past CAO, identified issues and opportunities, and documented key protection strategies for best available science-based management of critical areas.
The consultants drafted a preliminary CAO based on the outcomes of the best available science review and gap analysis. When reviewing the BAS recommendations, City staff worked with the consultants to come to an agreement on a comprehensive approach to update the CAO. Throughout the development process, City staff collected public input, which was addressed throughout the process and considered when making policy and regulatory decisions.
Ordinance 878 – Adopted 12/08/2025, to go into effect 12/30/2025
The City of Burien is updating our housing regulations to better address housing types for those who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
A number of these facilities already exist in the city, and some have been here for decades. Due to recent changes in state law, the city is required to update the Burien Municipal Code to expand housing types and ensure there is adequate capacity to accommodate the City’s share of need by 2044.
“STEP” housing stands for emergency shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing.
Comply with the State’s Growth Management Act and regional planning requirements.
Define and regulate new housing types in the Burien Municipal Code designed to meet the needs of those experiencing or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
Provide sufficient capacity to accommodate 759 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units and 1,433 emergency beds by 2044.
Washington State passed House Bill 1220 (HB 1220) in 2021, amending the Growth Management Act and municipal code requirements (RCW 36.70A.070(2), RCW 35A.21.430 and RCW 35.21.683). The law requires local governments to plan for and accommodate housing affordable to all income levels by 2044. For more information and resources, the Washington State Department of Commerce has prepared the following STEP Housing informational handouts.
The City of Burien’s projected housing needs for 2019-2044 as ratified by the King County Countywide Planning Policies is 7,500 total net new housing units. These housing units are broken down by affordability level. As illustrated in the bar graph below, Burien needs 1,433 emergency beds and 759 units of permanent supportive housing units by 2044.
Housing units needed in Burien by 2044.
The amendments to the Burien Municipal Code will address four new housing types. These housing types include indoor emergency shelter, transitional housing, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing, which together are commonly referred to as STEP Housing. Emergency shelter and emergency housing are required to be allowed in areas where hotels or motels are permitted, and permanent supportive housing and transitional housing must be allowed in any zones where residential dwellings and hotels are allowed.
Compliance with HB 1220 is not just a legal obligation—it’s an opportunity to address a gap in housing types necessary to create a safer and more supportive environment for those experiencing homelessness. While the City must meet state requirements, we are also exploring additional housing solutions that best serve our community and are interested in your ideas.
Project Timeline
August 2024
Review and Analysis
Review state, regional, and county-wide requirements, analyze best practices and local case studies, and evaluate how to best incorporate changes to the Burien Municipal Code.
September 2024
Public Engagement and Draft Development Regulations
Conduct community and stakeholder engagement to share information and gather ideas and concerns to inform draft proposed development regulations.
October 2024
Review
Review of draft regulations and additional public engagement.
November 2024
Plan Adoption
Final adoption by the City Council.
The Burien Neighborhood Grants Program supports community members who want to improve the quality of life in Burien neighborhoods. The program strives to encourage projects that foster connection and create community improvements in an equitable manner. Through this program, the City of Burien will provide up to $5,000 of funding per project which the neighborhood matches with local resources of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services, or cash.
City of Burien Urban Forest Planner, Josh Petter, assists students from Highline Big Picture School during their planting project.Tree planting at Salmon Creek Park.Shoveling mulch at Dottie Harper Park.
Project Timeline
January 2026
Initial application round opens
January -March 2026
Application support available
April 1, 2026
Initial application round closes
The first round of applications for Neighborhood Grants will be reviewed starting April 1, 2026, and a second round of applications will be reviewed starting June 15th, 2026.
The City of Burien worked with community stakeholders to re-imagine the long-term future of our city through a coordinated planning effort combining major updates to the Comprehensive Plan, a new Transportation Master Plan, an update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, and a new Economic Development Action Plan.
Specifically, this planning process focuses on land use, economic development, human services, environmental protection, infrastructure, transportation, parks and open spaces, recreation programs, public art, and cultural services. Results of this planning effort will guide policymaking, operational plans, and budgets for the next twenty years.
Comprehensive Plan
The City of Burien embarked on a major update to its Comprehensive Plan. This effort will help Burien plan and build for the next few decades. Planning for this growth helps us build a city with an equitable, sustainable, and healthy future.
The Transportation Master Plan helps determine our community’s current and future transportation needs, guiding how we invest in transportation over the next 20 years.
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan is a six-year strategic plan for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The plan looks at the existing conditions, identifies gaps in facilities and programs, and offers strategies, projects, and programs to address those gaps.
The Economic Development Action Plan contains specific economic development goals, strategies, and implementation measures and an implementation plan, outlining the timing, anticipated cost, and funding source of each implementation action.
Develop a shared vision to guide planning and policy development.
November 2022-June 2023
Community Stories and Strategies
Staff will communicate what we have heard to date and present draft strategies and projects for feedback.
July 2023-January 2024
Community Review
Staff drafts plans, and community will provide feedback on each plan.
January 2024-October 2024
Legislative Review
Plans go before Burien City Council for review and approval. Public comment accepted.
March-October 2024
Plans Adopted
All plans adopted by end of year.
The City of Burien completed a major update to its Comprehensive Plan on October 28, 2024. This effort will help Burien plan and build for the next few decades. Planning for this growth helps us build a City with an equitable, sustainable, and healthy future. The Comprehensive Plan covers many topics including land use and zoning, economic development, public services, environmental protection, and infrastructure, meeting the community’s needs and reflecting the community’s vision.
Identify and implement the community’s vision and priorities
Extend Burien’s planning horizon to 2044
Comply with the State’s Growth Management Act and regional planning requirements
Incorporate updates from Transportation Master Plan and Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, which set infrastructure priorities for the next 6–20 years
Comprehensive Plan Focus Areas
The Comprehensive Plan update will focus on the following:
Integration of equity into the planning and engagement process and policy development
Housing to meet state requirements and local household needs for affordable ownership and rental housing, especially “missing middle” housing
Employment opportunities and jobs capacity to meet growth targets and improve jobs-housing balance
Regulations and incentives to realize Burien’s vision for mixed uses, gathering spaces, affordable housing, and job opportunities in Downtown, 1st Ave, Five Corners
Avoiding and addressing displacement risks for housing and jobs
Equitable access to parks, recreation, and services
Supporting transportation by all modes including active transportation like pedestrian and bike facilities, long-term maintenance, and capital investments
Airport policies and compatibility
Healthy communities promoting clean air and water, trees, and noise management
Climate resilience to adapt and protect our places and people from extreme heat, flooding or sea level rise
Critical areas (streams, wetlands) restoration and green infrastructure (like rain gardens)
Human services and meeting people’s needs
Creating effective, streamlined, and implementable plans that guide and direct development and investment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Comprehensive Plan? A Comprehensive Plan guides Burien’s physical development over 20 or more years including desires for housing and job growth, community character, capital investments in infrastructure and services, and policies and regulations. The Plan is informed by and addresses community values and needs.
How will this affect me? An updated Comprehensive Plan can impact housing choices, the location of jobs, walking/biking/car mobility, parks and recreation opportunities, and overall public services. The Comprehensive Plan and updated policies can help all of Burien.
Why do we have to accept growth? In Washington State laws and policies determine that growth be directed to some areas and away from others. Burien is in an urban area that will always have growth directed to it, and we’re required to accommodate the growth distributed to our city while protecting critical areas and providing for parks and open space. Growing “up not out” helps protect regional natural resources like farmlands and forests.
Why are we updating the Plan now? Why not wait? The GMA requires Comprehensive Plans to be updated periodically. The State deadline is December 31, 2024. Also, updating housing, transportation, economic development and other elements can meet critical community needs.
When will there be community engagement for the Comprehensive Plan? Burien has developed multiple ways for the community to be involved in this update. We are trying to make sure we are reaching people where they are at and making it easy to participate in this process.
Environmental Impact Statement
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an environmental review of growth alternatives to help guide community discussion on growth options and priorities. The Environmental review for the Comprehensive Plan update will meet the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements and will consist of a number of natural and built environment elements.
The environmental review will be shared with the community in draft and final stages of the Comprehensive Plan.
Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
The City of Burien established a committee in early 2023 to help advise City staff on a major update to Burien’s Comprehensive Plan. The advisory committee is one of many groups of stakeholders advising the City on the Burien community’s needs and wishes for its future. Over the course of six meetings, the committee provided recommendations to the Burien City Council. Learn more about the committee.
After years of community input, we’ve developed draft zoning code amendments and design standards designed to implement the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan, Ambaum and Boulevard Park Community Plan, and Burien Urban Center Plan. See the links below to review draft zoning code and explore an interactive map. These will be presented at a public hearing on November 4, 2024 and the Burien City Council will take action on November 18, 2024. Find agenda packets online once they are published ahead of each meeting.
Preliminary Plan Development and Environmental Impact Statement
Spring 2023
Preliminary Urban Center Code Development
Summer 2023
Draft Plan and Environmental Impact Statement Comment Period
Winter/Spring 2024
Preferred Alternative and Environmental Impact Statement
Summer-Fall 2024
Final Plan Development and Adoption
The City of Burien completed a community planning process along the Ambaum Blvd corridor and in the Boulevard Park neighborhood to plan for thriving, transit-friendly neighborhoods and successful business districts in the Ambaum Blvd corridor and Boulevard Park neighborhood. The plans were approved on October 28, 2024 when the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan was passed by the Burien City Council.
After years of community input, we’ve developed draft zoning code amendments and design standards designed to implement the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan, Ambaum and Boulevard Park Community Plan, and Burien Urban Center Plan. See the links below to review draft zoning code and explore an interactive map. These will be presented at a public hearing on November 4, 2024 and the Burien City Council will take action on November 18, 2024. Find agenda packets online once they are published ahead of each meeting.
Articulate a vision and action strategies to meet community and citywide goals.
Engage with diverse members of the community, including people typically not engaged in civic processes.
Evaluate city regulations with an eye toward walkable business districts to support housing and business district strategies, development feasibility, urban design and public space goals, walkability, cultural expression, and community health.
Recommend new land use and zoning standards, and adjustments to city regulations for consideration by the Burien Planning Commission and City Council.
Apply a race and social equity lens to all of the work, including engagement, analysis and recommendations.
Project Timeline
Early 2021
Review and Analysis
We will evaluate data and consider environmental and equity factors.
Mid-2021
Public Engagement and Plan Development
Community and stakeholder engagement and advisory committee will solicit ideas to create a shared vision.
Mid-2022
Plan Development
We will refine and test ideas and proposals and consider urban design. Implementation steps will be presented. Plan will be refined with advisory group and community stakeholders. Plan and zoning code amendments will be drafted. SEPA environmental review will occur.
Fall 2024
Plan Adoption
The plan will go before Planning Commision and City Council for review and adoption. Community plans and a zoning ordinance will be adopted.
We've detected you might be speaking a different language. Do you want to change to:
