City of Burien

Type One Land Use Review involves a decision by the Community Development Director following issuance of a public notice, consideration of written public comments and review of a written staff recommendation. The director's decision can be appealed to the City's hearing examiner.

The Type Two Land Use Review involves a decision by the City's hearing examiner following issuance of a public notice, holding of a public hearing, consideration of public comments, and review of a written staff recommendation. The hearing examiner's decision can be appealed to the City Council.

The Type Three Land Use Review involves a decision by the City Council following issuance of a public notice, holding of a public hearing by the hearing examiner, consideration of public comments, and review of a written hearing examiner recommendation. The City Council's decision can be appealed to Superior Court.

Type Four Land Use Review is used for items such as Zoning Code or Comprehensive Plan amendments: items that are legislative in nature rather than associated with a specific piece of land or a specific development project. Type Four Land Use Reviews are handled by the Planning Commission and City Council. Please contact the Department of Community Development at (206) 248-5510 if you're interested in the Type Four Land Use Review process.

Critical areas provide a variety of valuable and beneficial biological and physical functions that benefit the city and its residents, and/or may pose a threat to human safety or to public and private property. The beneficial functions and values of critical areas include, but are not limited to, water quality protection and enhancement, fish and wildlife habitat, food chain support, flood storage, conveyance and attenuation of storm runoff, groundwater recharge and discharge, wave attenuation, aesthetic value protection, and recreation. Hazards include landslides and excessive erosion.

Critical area regulations apply if your property is located within a critical area or its buffer. A critical area study prepared by a professional in the field of wetland or stream biology, engineering, or geology, depending on the type of critical area, is required.

• Critical Area Review Application Checklist
• Vegetation Management Plan Application Checklist

Burien’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP), a land use plan for local shoreline areas, applies to approximately five miles of marine shoreline along Puget Sound and Lake Burien. All proposed uses and development occurring within a shoreline jurisdiction must conform to Chapter 90.58 RCW, the Shoreline Management Act, and Burien’s Shoreline Master Program. 

• Shoreline Conditional Use Permit Application
• Shoreline Exemption Application
• Shoreline Substantial Development Application
• Shoreline Variance Request Application

SEPA is required to mitigate impacts to the surrounding environment of a project meeting specific thresholds and can include a specific development proposal or an action which involves changing land uses and zoning. It is a 60-day process involving a public comment period and an appeal period. It is an administrative decision. 

• SEPA Review Application/Information
• SEPA Environmental Checklist - Project Actions
• SEPA Environmental Checklist - Non-Project Actions

The Short Plat Review is used for review and approval of land division into four lots or less. This involves a decision by the Community Development Director following issuance of a public notice, consideration of written public comments and review of a written staff recommendation. The Director's decision can be appealed to the City's Hearing Examiner.

Once a short plat receives preliminary approval, all conditions of approval must be met and any required public improvements installed. Then, the final short plat must be signed by the City and recorded with King County.

• Short Plat-Preliminary (2-4 lots) - Application/Information
• Short Plat-Final (2-4 lots) - Application/Information

The Subdivision Review is used for review and approval of land division into five lots or more. This involves a decision by the City Council following issuance of a public notice, holding of a public hearing by the Hearing Examiner, consideration of public comments, and review of a written Hearing Examiner recommendation. The City Council's decision can be appealed to Superior Court.

• Subdivision (5+ lots) - Preliminary Application/Information
  
• Subdivision (5+ lots) - Final Application/Information

The purpose of a Lot Line Adjustment is to accommodate a transfer of land between adjacent separate lots in order to correct property line or setback encroachment, create better lot design, or improve access without creating substandard lots or setback requirements. Lot line adjustments do not create additional building lots. The decision on a lot line adjustment application is made by Department of Community Development staff.

Common issues are: lot area, setbacks for existing structures (from the new lot lines), impervious surface coverage, and building coverage. If your site is located in or near a critical area staff will be reviewing whether the resulting lots have an adequate building area without encroaching into the critical area or its required buffer. The information you submit must have adequate detail so staff can determine if the resulting lots meet the requirements for a building site.

• Lot Line Adjustment Application/Information/Checklist