The Ruth Dykeman Children's Center in Burien has filed to rezone two portions of its property on Southwest 152nd Street on Lake Burien as moderate density residential and high-density multi-family neighborhood.

President and CEO Tom Rembiesa said that this was done as a way to plan for the future, and that there are no plans to sell or develop the property.

A public meeting to discuss the zoning changes will be held at Burien City Hall, 15811 Ambaum Blvd. S.W., Suite C, at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23rd.

The children's center was one of five areas designated as a special zoning area by Burien when the city created a comprehensive use plan in 1997.

The children's center was supposed to submit a comprehensive use plan of their own to the city. Rembiesa said center staffers did not realize the requirement and had not submitted one on until now.

The area that is proposed to be zoned high density is approximately an acre of land bordered by 10th Avenue on the east and St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church to the north. It wraps around the gym and the shop buildings of the center.

The property on the lake, approximately .95 acres, is proposed to be rezoned for single-family residences. Houses developed on the lake would not have lake access.

Burien Senior City Planner David Johanson said he will recommend the city council accept the proposed zoning changes.

Johanson said that zoning changes are a very preliminary step in developing that property.

When looking at the request for rezoning he said they only look at whether the zoning changes fit with the city's comprehensive plan. Any specific development plans will have to be reviewed and approved by the city.

Rembiesa said the rezoning and any potential development will not affect the school. He said that if the school decided to build another treatment house on the back part of the property they still could.

"We could have not asked for any rezoning at all, and kept the same zone as the special planning area," Rembiesa said. "What would happen if we did that is, if in fact in the future the organization wanted to sell the land, it is much more difficult to change a master use plan."

The zoning request matches the adjacent land. There are apartments next to the proposed high-density area and residential homes on the other side of the land proposed for moderate density.

Rembiesa said that while he would like to build another treatment house, there are no immediate plans to expand the facilities.

He added the center is focusing on expanding its community programs.

There are currently over 30 "high-needs" children housed at the children's centers facilities.