Chapter 5: Public Services, Facilities, and Utilities Element Introduction: Cowlitz County residents rely on facilities and services to help define their quality of life. Services, Facilities and Utilities range from public buildings, fire and police protection to electric, water and sewer. As Cowlitz County grows and develops, it is essential to planning efforts to coordinate, identify and locate services and facilities in a manner that is consistent with the vision of the community. Existing facilities and services must be able to support existing and future demand as well as make provisions for improvements to existing systems. A combination of county, city, state, and federal agencies, along with private service providers provide services to residents. By planning for utilities and facilities it will allow the county to develop in a manner consistent with the vision of its citizens. Utilities for the purposes of this section are defined as All lines and facilities related to the provision, distribution, collection, transmission, or disposal of water, storm and sanitary sewage, oil, gas, power, information, telecommunication and telephone cable and includes facilities for the generation of electricity, use of land for the utility purposes. Utilities can be both public and private and can include a regulated agency that provides or is authorized to furnish under state or county the above referenced services. Public Services are defined as Transportation systems or facilities, water systems or facilities, wastewater systems or facilities, fire, police, and emergency systems or facilities. Facilities include the physical structures associated with utilities and public services. These can include buildings, pipes, power poles, dikes, stormwater detention basins, and other similar infrastructure. Cowlitz County, through the Publics Work Department operates a small number of water and sewer systems: Water System Toutle River View Toutle Ryderwood Camelot Sewer System Woodbrook Portion of Toutle (Streeters Neighborhood) Ryderwood Camelot Port of Longview isolated system The Department of Public Works has adopted management plans for each of these systems. These plans will be adopted by reference as part of the Comprehensive Plan. Cowlitz County businesses and residents are also served by private utility and service providers such as Public Utility District #1, Beacon Hill Water and Sewer District to name a few. The Cities of Longview, Kelso, Kalama, Woodland, and Castel Rock provide water and
sewer service to many residents and businesses located within their respective adopted service areas. Historically the County coordinates water and sewer service planning the aforementioned entities via inter-local agreements or through review of service management plans. The County should continue to cooperate and coordinate with identified service providers. Cowlitz County is also home to a major electrical transmission corridor/line (Bonneville Power Administration), oil and gas pipeline, and electrical generation facilities (Pacificorp). Identifying goals and policies that address these unique features and benefit the community is a must. The County also provides many safety and public services. The Sheriff s Office provides safety services to the unincorporated areas of the County. Fire protection is provided through multiple fire districts, however not all properties are within one of these districts and are generally located in the area known as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Planning for development in these areas requires coordination between land-use, building codes and formalized WUI regulations. Beyond fire and safety measures the County provides many services that seek to enhance the quality of life for its citizens. Cooperative planning between schools, libraries and community centers will enable the County to thrive and reach its long term vision of being a vibrant and healthy community. These entities and groups offer valuable insight as to what services need to be emphasized when development occurs. Many elements of the Comprehensive Plan such as Parks, Recreation, Transportation will overlap with this section. Identifying locations where utilities and facilities are and should be located, consistent with land use designations and development patterns will allow the County to develop in an orderly fashion, protect natural resources and conserve county resources. Creating a consolidated Capital Facilities (Improvement) Program (CFIP) will contribute to the achievements of the goals and policies set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. A CFIP will coordinate existing long term planning efforts of the County s various departments and provide a broader fiscal picture to ensure that services are provided in a cost efficiently and economical sound manner. General Goals and Policies Goal PSFU 1: Site facilities and utilities consistent with the policies of the Land Use Element. Policy PSFU 1.1 Utility facilities may be permitted in all land use zones when and where utility franchises exist and if they are in compliance with this Comprehensive Plan and related codes and standards. 2
Policy PSFU 1.2 The County shall minimize environmental impacts of utility facilities and ensure that utility facilities are not sited in designated critical areas or environmental sensitive areas (shorelines & cultural resource areas) unless feasible alternatives are unavailable, in which case suitable mitigation in accordance with the critical areas regulations shall be required. Policy PSFU 1.3 Review environmental impacts of public services, facilities and utilities at the time of development permit application. Ensure meaningful opportunity for public involvement during permitting process. Policy PSFU 1.4 Ensure adequate infrastructure to promote economic development. Goal PSFU 2: Establish and/or assess inter-local agreements with municipalities and other entities to coordinate efficient provision of public facilities Policy PSFU 2.1 Coordinate infrastructure and service planning with local jurisdictions to be consistent with city and county Service Areas and proposed Urban Growth Areas identified by cities within Cowlitz County. Policy PSFU 2.2 The Department of Public Works and The Department of Building and Planning should coordinate infrastructure planning to be consistent with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. Policy PSFU 2.3 Encourage joint planning of linear infrastructure such as transportation, water, sewer, power, and telecommunications. Policy PSFU 2.4 Encourage utility facilities along public rights-of-way and encourage underground distribution lines in accordance with state rules and regulations. Goal PSFU 3: Provide utilities that are consistent and available to support land use policies. Policy PSFU 3.1 Cowlitz County should establish a capital improvements program to facilitate the efficient delivery of services. Policy PSFU 3.2 Protect existing utility corridors to permit maintenance access and future expansion. Policy PSFU 3.3 Encourage the joint use of utility corridors and sites, provided such joint use is consistent with applicable law and prudent utility practice. Policy PSFU 3.4 Encourage lateral connections to existing pipelines in land use areas 3
Domestic Water Systems General Goals and Policies: Goal PSFU 4: Coordinate private and public water system planning to promote efficient service, protect the natural resources and ensure the orderly physical development of Cowlitz County consistent with adopted plans and policies. Policy PFSU 4.1 The Cowlitz County Water System Umbrella Plan is a part of the Comprehensive Plan. Policy PFSU 4.2 Review, develop, and amend as needed, existing or future interlocal agreements with the cities and water suppliers in the coordination of water service. Policy PFSU 4.3 Encourage the continued cooperation, coordination and consolidation of water purveyors to achieve greater efficiency in the delivery of water services. Policy PFSU 4.4 Ensure water system plans are consistent with anticipated population growth, the Comprehensive Plan and future subarea plans. Policy PFSU 4.5 Ensure water systems for developments include adequate supply and distribution systems for domestic use and fire protection per local, state and federal plans, policies and regulations. Solid Waste Goals and Policies: Goal PFSU 5: Provide solid waste disposal service to reduce public nuisance, health hazard and pollution to Cowlitz County s environment. Policy PFSU 5.1 The Cowlitz County Solid Waste Management Plan is part of the Comprehensive Plan. Goal PFSU 6: Protect environmental quality and public health through effective practices, education, regulations, and economic incentives. Policy PFSU 6.1 Coordinate and create consistency between Land Use regulations and Department of Health, Environmental Health Unit s regulations relating to solid waste. Sewer Goals and Policies: Goal PFSU 7: Encourage public sewer services consistent with land use categories. Policy PFSU 7.1 Ensure sewer services are consistent with anticipated population growth, the Comprehensive Plan, and City plans for Urban Growth Areas. 4
Policy PFSU 7.2 Review, develop, and amend as needed, existing or future interlocal agreements with the cities and water suppliers in the coordination of sewer service. Fire Protection Goals and Policies: Goal PFSU 8 : Provide fire and emergency medical services efficiently and cost effectively to residents of Cowlitz County. Policy PFSU 8.1 Identify and implement cooperation strategies between the fire districts and the Department of Building and Planning to address development and fire protection. Policy PFSU 8.2 Encourage inter-jurisdictional cooperation among fire districts, including the sharing of equipment and facilities. Policy PFSU 8.3 Identify and implement comprehensive emergency management plans consistent with the elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Policy PFSU 8.4 Encourage the adoption of Wildland-Urban Interface policies and practices for rural and remote land use designation portion of the county. Public Buildings Goals and Policies (Schools/Libraries/Civic/Community Centers): Goal PFSU 9: Cowlitz County should establish a capital improvements program to facilitate the efficient delivery of services and establishment of facilities. Policy PFSU 9.1 Consolidate budget planning and departmental improvement programs into a single document. Goal PFSU 10: Encourage multiple uses of public buildings. Policy PFSU 10.1 Identify buildings and locations where multiple uses of County facilities will best serve the community. Goal PFSU 11: Increase library services and access for all county residents. Policy PFSU 11.1 Coordinate with city libraries to explore the opportunities for expanding and creating library opportunities in the county. Policy PFSU 11.2 Encourage cooperation and coordination between school libraries and existing libraries to offer expanded service to local citizens. 5
Goal PFSU 12: Locate public buildings, schools and community centers where adequate roads and utilities are available. Stormwater Goals and Policies: Goal PFSU 13: Provide stormwater facilities and related management programs that protect surface and groundwater quality and habitat, prevent chronic flooding from stormwater, maintain natural stream hydrology and protect aquatic resources. Policy PFSU 13.1 The Cowlitz County Stormwater Management Plan is a part of the Comprehensive Plan Policy PFSU 13.2 Coordinate with the Department of Public Works to update and implement Low Impact Development (LID) standards into County Stormwater regulations for both urbanized and rural areas to meet required state and federal requirements. Policy PFSU 13.3 Best management practices should be utilized to treat stormwater runoff. Electrical Facilities Goals and Policies: Goal PFSU 14: Encourage the location of Electric Facilities are placed in appropriate areas. Policy PSFU 14.1 Cowlitz PUD planning should be coordinated with the County s long-range plans. Policy PSFU 14.2 Encourage the location of power substations in non-residential areas. Policy PSFU 14.3 Encourage the undergrounding of existing and proposed electrical facilities at the time of development. Essential Public Facilities Goals and Policies: Goal PFSU 15 Ensure appropriate siting of Essential Public Facilities. Policy PSFU 15.1 Adopt an Essential Public Facilities Ordinance consistent with State requirements. 6
7