Community Development staff creates and maintains the City of Burien's Comprehensive Plan, which is a 20 year master plan managing growth in the city. In partnership with the public and elected and appointed officials, staff drafts plans to improve specific neighborhoods and focus areas, which are called subarea plans.
Proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan are carefully considered every year. There is a two-month period when the City can accept applications from groups or individuals proposing an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The application period extends from September 1 through November 1.
Complete details on this process can be found in the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone Application. To apply for an amendment, you can download and complete a Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application.
Site-specific amendments may require a rezone application. This is a two-step process, which requires the Comprehensive Plan amendment be approved prior to applying for a rezone.
Through review and a public meeting, the Planning Commission recommends to the City Council which proposed amendments should be considered for the Comprehensive Plan amendment work program.
The City Council reviews the Planning Commission and staff recommendations and determines which proposed amendments to include in the annual work program by February 1. This document is referred to as the Comprehensive Plan Docket.
The Planning Commission conducts public hearings, evaluates the requests, and makes recommendations to the City Council.
The City Council carefully considers the recommendations of the Planning Commission along with all comments provided by the public and approves or denies proposed amendments.