Burien’s Nov. 4 Planning Meeting: Permit Changes and Shoreline Complaints

Burien’s Planning Commission will consider changes to zoning code, including development permit procedures, on November 4.

The meeting packet also includes letters from residents challenging Lake Burien zoning, shoreline protections, and public notification.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Burien City Hall, 400 SW 152nd St., with participation available through Zoom.

Residents have two opportunities to speak: a general public comment period and a separate BMC 19.65 Procedures Zoning Code Text Amendments – Public Hearing. The hearing’s staff report begins on page 25.

After the hearing, commissioners will consider a recommendation to the City Council, which makes the final decision.

What could change

The proposed amendments address several parts of the permitting process:

• New notices when projects change. Changes of 25% or more in housing units, building footprint, impervious surface area or clearing limits could trigger another public notice. The proposed comment period is 14 days, with an exception when a SEPA environmental review is required.
• Another notice when signs are missing. Applicants who fail to post required notice boards could have to repeat the process and pay additional fees.
• Fewer permit steps. Qualifying exterior remodels, additions and site improvements would receive design review through the building permit process, eliminating a separate application and associated fees. (Note: Staff report refers to qualifying Level 1 improvements in R-4, R-5 and mixed-use zones.)
• Clearer deadlines. The code would explain when major revisions can restart review timelines and applicant non-responsiveness can extend them.
• Old Burien design language. Subjective wording would be removed from design departure criteria. Staff says specific material and design requirements would remain.

Edgar: Missing notices, maps and corrections

Correspondence from Chestine Edgar, and other shoreline residents, alleges Burien initially failed to recognize Lake Burien’s shoreline status during comprehensive planning.

The submission argues that land-use and zoning changes conflict with shoreline protections and that residents have struggled to get those concerns addressed.

“Confusion and communication problems were the name of the game,” the letter states.

Edgar alleges residents were not properly added to environmental notice lists despite written requests, have not received requested overlay maps, and were denied access to the 2026 amendment docket for shoreline corrections.

The correspondence also connects higher land assessments to development potential residents contend shoreline restrictions would prevent. That claimed connection has not been independently verified for this article.

Erickson: Density, transit and neighborhood impacts

Gretchen Erickson’s October 26 submission forwards earlier correspondence challenging higher-density zoning around Lake Burien.

Her complaints include inadequate notification, disputed transit assumptions, congestion, environmental impacts and allowing businesses in residential neighborhoods. She requests lower-density designations and better opportunities for residents to participate.

“Respect local resident input,” the letter urges, adding, “we live on and understand this land.”

Both submissions include correspondence from Tina Orwall’s office relaying legislative staff’s assessment that Burien’s housing proposal exceeded HB 1110’s minimum requirements. The response also says neighborhood commercial provisions were not required by that bill.

These are residents’ complaints, not commission findings. A Lake Burien rezoning decision is not listed on this agenda.

How to participate

Attend in person or through Zoom. Written comments received by 3 p.m. November 4 at planningcommission@burienwa.gov will be forwarded to commissioners.

Read the full agenda packet. The staff report and proposed amendments appear on pages 25–40. Residents’ correspondence appears on pages 7–23.