HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial 2013-07-31 Item 2B - Index 2A - Utilities Element - Summary_________________________________
UTILITIES
REQUIREMENTS: The State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires the City to include a Utili
Element within its Comprehensive Plan consisting of the general location, proposed
capacity of all existing and proposed utilities, including, but
telecommunication lines, and natural gas lines (RCW 36.70A.070).lement is a framework
to provide utility service and facilities that are efficient and predictable.
SUMMARY: Sanitary sewer, water, surface water, solid waste, electricity, natural gas and
telecommunications are addressed in this element. Sanitary sewer and water services are provided by
Tukwila, neighboring cities and special districts. Surface water management ensures that water which
eventually drains into the Duwamish River and Puget Sound does not result in reducr quality.
Surface water drainage is managed locally, but planning and mana
important since water follows natural slopes, rather than man-made boundaries. The remaining utilities
are provided to residents and businesses through franchise agreements or contracts between the City
and vendors.
Having utility facilities and services available is a key factor in land development, determining if, when
and how development can occur. Rather than providing all its own utilities, Tukwila relies on other
public and private agencies to provide many of these services.
land use impacts of utilities actions must be stressed.
KEY ISSUES:
Service Extensions. Planned extensions of utility services are based on existing need or to
provide capacity to accommodate planned growth or growth targets.
Coordination of Service Providers. The City-managed utilities are coordinated with adjacent
purveyors that provide utility services to portions of the City to ensure that all Tukwila
receives good service. Tukwila is served by three non-City sewer and five non-City water
districts or cities, which can complicate coordination for providing service.
Concurrency and Implications for Growth. State law requires that key utilities shall be in
place at the time they are needed when projects are developed. This is known as
concurrency, and it ensures that there is enough utility capacity available to serve the growth
from the region that may occur in Tukwila.
Environmental Sustainability. Environmental protection and restoration efforts are an
important part of utility planning and operations to ensure that the quality of th
environment and its contributions to human health and vitality asustained, and impacts of
climate change are mitigated.
Environmental sustainability is a key priority for the region as expressed in King Countys
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Countywide Planning Policies. This priority shall be implemented through utility planning
and operations in Tukwila through a range of activities from conservation practices to
low impact development methods.
2015 Comprehensive Plan Update
TukwilaThe city of opportunity, the community of choice
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UTILITIES
Residential Neighborhood and Sub-Area Vitality. Utility investments affect neighborhood
quality of life and the ability to realize established visions for specific sub-areas
Significant progress has been made in upgrading utilities in the
o
since the Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1995. Ensuring high
in neighborhoods remains a priority. Tukwilas Strategic Plan further emphasizes the
importance of capital investment, including utilities, as a mean-areas
reach their potential and can accommodate growth targets. These
International Boulevard, the Southcenter/Tukwila Urban Center area and the
Manufacturing/Industrial Center area along East Marginal Way. The high costs of
undergrounding utilities must be addressed, as well as limiting the impacts of utilities on
adjacent areas.
System Rehabilitation, Replacement and Retrofit. Much of the Citys utility infrastructure
has been reached or is near its life expectancy. Rehabilitation or replac
systems will be needed to ensure that they continue to operate reliably. Federal, state and,
local requirements continue to change and all improvements to Tukwilas utility systems
need to meet new requirements.
Much of Tukwilas infrastructure is 50+ years old, and requires
o
replacement and/or upgrades to ensure reliability. Planned upgrades are addressed in
Tukwilas water, sewer and surface water system plans. Projects are scheduled and paid
for through Tukwilas six-year Capital Improvement Program. Additional non-city utilities
will be upgraded to address technological innovations, capacity constraints, and cha
regulations.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED CHANGES: The proposed policy changes primarily update, reorganize,
consolidate and/or clarify existing policies and implementation s. Wording has been added that
furthers regional priorities for environmentally sustainable dev
priorities that residents expressed in Tukwilas Strategic Plan (2012). Issue statements have been
updated to add discussion of neighborhood and subarea vitality,
sustainability. Policy changes include:
Relocate flood management policies that are now found in the Utilities ele
Facilities, Natural Environment and Roles and Responsibilities el
appropriate, and to avoid duplication.
Clarify requirements to place electric and telecommunication utilities underground, rather tha
overhead by specifying that :
1.All new electrical and communication utilities shall be undergro
Council determines that it is not financially practical; and
2.Utility relocations that are necessitated by a public works proj
unless it is not in the best public interest.
Provide guidance for careful trimming of vegetation near electri
2015 Comprehensive Plan Update
TukwilaThe city of opportunity, the community of choice
Page 2
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UTILITIES
Planning Commission Initiated Changes:
The Planning Commission stressed the importance of giving priority to residential neighborhoods f
City-planned utility improvements by replacing this priority in the Issues section and by recommending a
new policy:
12.1.xx: Give priority to residential neighborhoods for city-planned utility improvements and extensions
in order to improve and sustain their quality and livability.
Two new policies stress the importance of trees:
Policy12.1.xx: Consider Tukwilas Urban Forest together with other infrastructure systems during utility
planning, design, installation and/or maintenance to ensure that
12.1.xx: Encourage the retention and planting of trees for their benefici
.
runoff including flow attenuation, water quality enhancement, and tempe
New strategies implement these policies by investigating financi
Utility for enhancing the tree canopy, and by developing mechanisms to improve surface water
inspections and enforcement.
Edits that the Planning Commission recommended are highlighted in yellow in the strikeout/underline
document.
2015 Comprehensive Plan Update
TukwilaThe city of opportunity, the community of choice
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