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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCountywide planning policies 3.16.16 Kittitas County Countywide Planning Policies Last amended on March 16, 2016 Ordinance Number 2016 - XXX March 16, 2016 2 PREAMBLE TO THE COUNTY-WIDE PLANNING POLICIES These Planning Policies are to be used solely to establish a framework from which the comprehensive plans of the County and cities within the county are developed and adopted, pursuant to RCW 36.70A, The Growth Management Act. These policies are adopted to ensure consistency and coordination among the comprehensive plans of the County and the cities. Nothing in these policies shall be construed to alter the land use powers of the cities or County. VISION STATEMENT This statement is a general vision of the future of our county, toward which this framework and these policies aim. Kittitas County and the cities will value and protect and enhance the quality of life by protecting the visual and physical environment; fostering economic opportunity, diversity, and security; supporting a wide range of natural resource-based industries; ensuring access to recreational opportunities; promoting educational excellence; and providing for affordable housing and accessible transportation. Discussion and Explanation Planning for growth and change must be based on maintaining and enhancing the existing quality of life, the character of the County, and meeting the needs of the community as a whole. Actualizing this vision requires a collaborative effort among public officials from all jurisdictions and active citizen participation. Public officials have decision making responsibility; however active citizen involvement through a variety of venues must be encouraged and valued. The entire community must be willing to share the burden and the responsibility of achieving mutually identified planning goals. The implementation of County-wide Planning Policies will promote more efficient growth patterns which may result in reduced cost of public services and facilities in the long term due to more logical distribution of governmental services. March 16, 2016 3 ROLE OF THE KITTITAS COUNTY CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS i. The Kittitas County Conference of Governments (KCCOG) may serve as mediator in matters of conflict resolution regarding interpretations and issues of clarification related to this document. ii. All jurisdictions of Kittitas County will jointly work to identify and address service areas and their impacts through the KCCOG. iii. The KCCOG shall serve as a first level conflict resolution mediation board among jurisdictions in addressing the enactment of development impact fees. 1. INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS Objective: To encourage cooperation between Kittitas County and the cities and towns within the County on a basis of mutual advantage and to provide services and facilities in a manner that will be best suited to geographic, economic, population, and other factors that influence the needs and development of local communities. Policy 1.1: Measures intended to implement countywide planning policies may include interlocal agreements, contracts, memorandums of understanding, and joint ordinances, or a combination thereof. Policy 1.2 Cities, the County, and Special Districts shall execute interlocal agreements to coordinate and manage growth in UGAs. Interlocal agreements shall acknowledge and implement the Countywide Planning Policies and shall incorporate uniform criteria for orderly annexation. Policy 1.3 Joint funding arrangements through such mechanisms as interlocal agreements should be adopted for a period after annexations of developed properties to consider compensation for the County’s loss of revenues and its capital facility expenditures prior to annexation, and any city obligations to provide capital facilities to the area annexed. 2. URBAN GROWTH AREAS Objective: To cooperatively determine future Urban Growth Areas and provide opportunities for a broad range of needs and uses within such areas for the following twenty (20). General Policies Policy 2.1: The County, in cooperation with the cities, will designate Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) for each jurisdiction that is expected for the next twenty (20) years as required by the Growth Management Act. Policies may consider March 16, 2016 4 potential growth anticipated for the subsequent fifty (50) years. Policy2.2: The designation of UGAs beyond the existing limits of incorporation will be based on demonstration of necessity to meet population projections and a demonstration by the cities that municipal utilities and public services either already exist, or are planned for and can be effectively and economically provided by either public or private sources. Policy 2.3: UGAs will be determined by projections of population growth in both rural and urban areas of the County. These projections shall be reached through negotiation at the KCCOG, taking into account current growth rates and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) anticipated population projections. Policy 2.4 The subdivision, rezone, capital improvements, and governmental service decisions of all County governmental jurisdictions should be directed by their projected share of growth and should be in proportion to that projected share of growth. These projections will be reviewed on an annual basis as needed at a regularly scheduled KCCOG meeting. Policy 2.5: Proposals for development, subdivisions, and public projects within the unincorporated UGAs shall be subject to joint review by the County and the affected incorporated jurisdictions according to the development standards and comprehensive plans. The County shall enforce these standards as agreed upon in the joint permit review process and interlocal agreements. Policy 2.6: Subdivisions and development within the UGAs shall be orderly and coordinated between County and city governments and utility service purveyors. Policy 2.7 Within UGAs, the forming of unincorporated areas of suburban density shall be planned and coordinated. Policy 2.8: The County should consider the use of joint SEPA lead agency status with any incorporated area for projects within a UGA to ensure coordination of mitigation for potential environmental impacts. Policy 2.9: Final development approval will continue to reside with the County for areas outside of City limits. Policy 2.10: Consistent development regulations and development standards including but not limited to: street alignment and grade, public road access, right-of-way, street improvements, sanitary sewer, storm water improvements, power, communications, utilities, park and recreation facilities, and school facilities should be adopted for areas within the identified twenty (20) year UGA boundaries for each jurisdiction within Kittitas County. March 16, 2016 5 Policy 2.11 To encourage logical expansions of UGAs and to enable the most cost-efficient expenditure of public funds for the provision of municipal services into newly annexed areas, the County and the respective cities shall jointly develop and implement development, subdivision and building standards, coordinated permit procedures, and innovative financing techniques including the possibility of development impact or other fees for the review and permitting of any new development within UGAs. Policy 2.12: City services should not be extended outside 20-year UGAs; however municipal services may be extended to serve a Master Planned Resort approved pursuant to the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan Master Planned Resort Policies and RCW 36.70A.360. Such services include, but are not limited to: central sewage collection and treatment, public water systems, urban street infrastructure, and storm water collection facilities. Policy 2.13 County adoption of city standards for development within corresponding UGAs shall be negotiated. These may include the following: 1. Street locations, both major and secondary 2. Street right-of-way 3. Street widths 4. Curbs and gutters 5. Sidewalks 6. Road construction standards 7. Cul-de-sacs, location and dimensions 8. Storm drainage facilities, quantity, quality, and discharge locations 9. Street lights, conduit, fixtures, locations 10. Sewer, septic regulations, private sewer, dry sewer facilities 11. Water, pipe sizes, locations, construction standards 12. Electrical and natural gas distribution systems 13. Communication utilities, telephone, cable TV, etc. 14. Fire protection, station locations, fire flows, uniform codes 15. School facilities 16. All building requirements 17. Subdivision and platting requirements 18. Mobile homes and manufactured home regulations 19. Zoning ordinances: permitted uses in UGAs, setbacks, building heights, lot coverage, etc. 20. Libraries 21. Any other like services. Policy 2.14: The availability of the full range of government services will be subject to the annexation policy of the adjacent municipality. Utility extensions into the UGA shall be consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan and capital facilities plan of the utility purveyor. March 16, 2016 6 Policy 2.15: In rural unincorporated areas outside UGAs, the County may designate limited areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRD), consistent with the provisions of RCW 36.70A.070(5). Policy 2.16: All planning efforts within UGAs associated with an incorporated city shall be accomplished on a joint basis between the city and the County and include participation from residents of unincorporated areas to the satisfaction of the County. Policy 2.17: Amendments or changes to the UGA designation may only be proposed once a year and must be reviewed by the KCCOG. Amendments may only be proposed by a city or the County. Policy 2.18: Amendments to the UGA shall be mutually agreed upon between the city and the County. The KCCOG may review and make recommendations regarding the amendment as deemed appropriate. Policy 2.19: An amendment to a UGA shall only be approved once the city(ies) or the County has demonstrated that the UGA designation criteria listed in policies 2.1 through 2.4 have been met. 3. REDUCE SPRAWL Objective: To reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land including farmland into sprawling, low-density development. Policy 3.1: Commercial developments including retail, wholesale or service related activities having a gross floor area more than 4,000 square feet, with associated parking facilities, shall be located only within UGAs. When commercial facilities are developed in conjunction with an approved Master Planned Resort, those portions of hotel/motel, short-term visitor accommodations, residential uses, conference and meeting rooms, and eating and drinking, and active recreation service facilities which are not devoted to retail sales shall not be subject to the 4,000 square foot limitation. All other retail, wholesale, or service related facilities included in the Master Planned Resort shall be subject to the 4,000 maximum square foot size. Policy 3.2: New industrial development which is not resource-based and requires urban services and zoning permits shall be located only within UGAs or industrial zoned land. Temporary industrial uses may be allowed within Master Planned Resorts approved by the County pursuant to RCW 36.70A.360 and the County Comprehensive Plan Master Planned Resort policies; provided, however, that any such use shall be limited to master planned resort construction, development, maintenance, and operational purposes and shall be subject to March 16, 2016 7 annual review and approval by the County. Nothing in this section shall prohibit Master Planned Resorts approved by the County from continuous maintenance and operational needs of such resorts. Policy 3.3 Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) which include commercial and/or industrial uses in addition to residential uses shall be located in UGAs or Master Planned Resorts pursuant to RCW 36.70A.360 and .362, and the County’s Comprehensive Plan Master Planned Resort Policies. Policy 3.4 The location of all PUDs shall be established to foster the efficient expansion and management of infrastructure and utilities and demonstrate compatibility with resource land uses; Impact fees may be assessed to compensate the cost of increased demands upon infrastructure, services, and utilities. Policy 3.5 Only residential PUDs will be allowed outside of UGAs and subject to the policies contained herein; Densities of PUDs allowed outside UGAs shall be determined by the underlying zone classification. Policy 3.6 The County may authorize master planned resorts in Kittitas County pursuant to RCW 36.70A.360 and .362, and the County’s Comprehensive Plan Master Planned Resort Policies. 4. TRANSPORTATION Objective: To provide for adequate and appropriate transportation systems within the County that are coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans. Policy 4.1: Transportation plans (i.e., transportation elements of comprehensive plans) shall promote the development and implementation of a safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation system in accordance with federal and state requirements, including the State’s Growth Management Act that is responsive to the community. Policy 4.2: Transportation plans will support the planning goals for comprehensive plans set forth in RCW 36.70A.020 and 36.70A.070(6), including promotion of economic development consistent with available resources and public services and facilities. Policy 4.3: Transportation plans will be consistent with their respective comprehensive plans and will be compatible with the applicable components of other local and regional transportation plans (e.g., QUADCO Regional Transportation Planning Organization, bordering counties, WSDOT and local agencies). Policy 4.4: The County and cities shall cooperate in the analysis of, and response to, any proposed major regional industrial, retail/commercial, recreation, or residential development proposals that may impact the transportation system in Kittitas County. March 16, 2016 8 Policy 4.5: Transportation plans and project prioritization shall be developed in active consultation with the public. Policy 4.6: Inter-jurisdictional transportation plans shall promote a coordinated and efficient multi-modal transportation system, including alternative forms of transportation for the movement of goods and people. Policy 4.7: The transportation plans will, to the maximum extent practical, provide a safe and environmentally sound system that meets community, elderly, disabled and low- income population needs. Policy 4.8: Transportation improvements which are necessary to maintain the identified level of service standards shall be implemented concurrent with new development so that improvements are in place at the time of development, or that a financial commitment is provided to ensure completion of the improvements within six years. 5. HOUSING Objective: To encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types typical of the character of Kittitas County, and preserve existing, useful housing stock. Policy 5.1: Consistent with RCW 36.70A.070(2)(c) a wide range of housing development types and densities within the county will be encouraged and promoted; including multiple-family and special needs housing, to provide affordable housing choices for all. Policy 5.2: All types of housing for individuals with special needs should be allowed by all jurisdictions. Policy 5.3: Multi-family housing meeting the needs of all income levels should be encouraged by all jurisdictions within Urban Growth Areas. Policy 5.4: Jurisdictions will consider innovative economic techniques and strategies for providing affordable housing as part of their economic development strategy. 6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Objective: To provide an environment encouraging economic growth within the County and its jurisdictions that is compatible with county character. Policy 6.1: The jurisdictions in Kittitas County will work with local and regional economic development interest groups in preparing and implementing March 16, 2016 9 an economic development plans. Policy 6.2: Economic vitality and job development will be encouraged in all the jurisdictions consistent with all comprehensive plans developed in accordance with the Growth Management Act. Policy 6.3: Economic development activities will be implemented in a manner which supports our quality of life and is consistent with comprehensive plans. This can be achieved by: 1. Recognizing that education and training which produce a skilled work force are essential to the county’s economic vitality. 2. Basing the level of economic development activity on our ability to manage the resulting growth. 3. Requiring non-resource based economic development activities to locate within designated UGAs or incorporated cities. 4. Requiring economic development proposals to show how increased services and infrastructure support will be provided. 5. Undertaking countywide and regional efforts to coordinate economic development activities. 6. Ensuring that the economic development element of local comprehensive plans and countywide and regional growth management plans are compatible. 7. PROPERTY RIGHTS Objective: To ensure that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made. The property rights of landowners shall be protected from arbitrary and discriminatory actions. Policy 7.2 The rights of property owners operating under current land use regulations shall be preserved unless a clear public health, safety, or welfare purpose is served by more restrictive regulation. Policy 7.3 Surface water runoff and drainage facilities shall be designed and utilized in a manner which protects against the destruction of property and the degradation of water quality. 8. PERMITS Objective: To ensure predictability by processing applications for both state and local government permits in a timely and fair manner. Policy 8.1 Upon receipt of a complete application, land use proposals and permits shall be expeditiously reviewed and decisions made in a timely manner. March 16, 2016 10 9. NATURAL-RESOURCE BASED INDUSTRIES Objective: To maintain and enhance natural resource-based industries, including but not limited to: productive timber, agricultural, and fisheries industries. Encourage the conservation of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage incompatible uses. Policy 9.1: Industrial developments which are solely resource based may be permitted beyond UGAs. Policy 9.2: Industries and commercial developments which provide for and/or compliment sales of agricultural production and agricultural tourism, or enhance recreational tourism within the County shall be encouraged within rural areas. Policy 9.3: All economic development and population growth in the County shall be accommodated in a manner that minimizes impacts on agricultural land, forestry, mineral resources, shorelines, and critical areas. 10. OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION Objective: To encourage the retention of open space and development of recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks. Policy 10.1 Preserve open space and create recreational opportunities through the use of innovative regulatory techniques and incentives such as but not limited to: purchase of development rights, transfer of development rights, conservation easements, level of service standards, land trusts, and community acquisition of lands for public ownership. Policy 10.2 New park and recreational facility plans shall include natural features, topography, floodplains, relationship to population characteristics, types of facilities, various user group needs, and standards of access including travel time. Policy 10.3 Indoor and outdoor recreation facilities shall be designed to provide a wide range of opportunities allowing for individual needs of those using these facilities. Policy 10.4 Expansion and enhancement of parks, recreation, scenic areas, and viewing points shall be identified, planned for, and improved in shorelands and urban and rural designated areas. March 16, 2016 11 11. ENVIRONMENT Objective: To protect and enhance the County’s quality of life and rural environment by safeguarding its environmental resources. Policy 11.1: All jurisdictions shall protect critical areas through comprehensive plans and policies and develop regulations that are consistent with the adopted environmental ordinances. Policy 11.2: Groundwater should be identified and protected, including appropriate protection of aquifer recharge areas. Supplies of potable domestic water, irrigation water, and firefighting water should be ensured in the rural, suburban, and urban areas. Policy 11.3: Water rights are those rights defined in state law, including RCW 90.03.010 and 90.44.035, as well as those rights as defined by agreements between the State and the County. 12. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Objective: To encourage the involvement of citizens in the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts. Policy 12.1 The County and cities shall provide regular and ongoing opportunities for public review and comment throughout the Comprehensive Plan development process Policy 12.2 The County and cities shall continue to encourage public awareness of the Comprehensive Plan by providing public participation opportunities and public education programs designed to promote a widespread understanding of the Plan’s purpose and intent. Policy 12.3 The County and cities shall encourage citizen participation throughout the planning process as mandated by state statute and codes for environmental, land use, and development permits. Policy 12.4 The County and cities shall utilize broad based Citizen Advisory Committees to participate and assist in the development of Comprehensive Plan Elements, sub- area plans, and functional plans as necessary. 13. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES Objective: To ensure that public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be adequate to serve the development at the time of occupancy and service levels are not March 16, 2016 12 decreased below minimum standards. General Public Facilities and Services Policy 13.1: Planning and financing for public facilities to serve potential business and industries except natural resource based should be limited to urban growth areas. Policy 13.2 Siting requirements for County public facilities within UGAs shall be jointly and cooperatively established with the municipalities. Municipal services should be extended by cities within unincorporated areas of UGAs. Policy 13.3 The cities and the County shall develop a cooperative communication process through KCCOG, which includes public involvement at an early stage, to consider siting of city, countywide, and statewide public facilities, including but not limited to, solid waste disposal, correctional, transportation, education and human service facilities. Policy 13.4 The siting of any public facility requires that the facility location be compatible with area land uses. Local comprehensive plans and regulations will establish standards to ensure such compatibility. Policy 13.5 In determining a local government’s fair share of siting of public facilities, the decision maker shall consider at least the following: 1. The location and effect of existing public facilities on the community. 2. The potential for re-shaping the economy, the environment, and the community character resulting from the siting of the facility. Policy 13.6 The County and cities should jointly sponsor the formation of Local Improvement Districts for the construction or reconstruction of infrastructure to a common standard which are located in the city and the Urban Growth Areas Policy 13.7 The levels of service for capital facilities shall be cooperatively defined, planned, and financed by all segments of the public and private sector involved in providing a particular service. Policy 13.8 Financing methods for infrastructure serving residential needs should be mitigated for resource lands as designated by the County in keeping with anticipated levels of service impact. Policy 13.9 All development should be evaluated so that it is assigned a fair and proportionate share of future infrastructure costs within UGAs and other designated service areas. Policy 13.10 All jurisdictions shall participate in identifying needed regional services. All March 16, 2016 13 jurisdictions shall cooperate to identify adequate revenue sources and in creating financing mechanisms for regional services and infrastructure. Financing mechanisms may include increment financing or tax base sharing. Policy 13.11 All jurisdictions shall coordinate bond elections for capital facility planning and financing. Policy 13.12: Public facilities will not be located in Resource Lands or Critical Areas unless no feasible alternative site location exists, such as in the case of utility transmission facilities. Essential Public Facilities Policy 13.13: The comprehensive planning process in each jurisdiction shall identify land for all essential public facilities of city, countywide, or statewide significance, such as human service facilities, educational or solid waste handling facilities, transportation facilities, correctional facilities and in-patient care facilities. Policy 13.14: Essential public facilities requiring siting outside cities or UGAs must be self- supporting and must not require the extension, construction, or maintenance of municipal services and facilities. Criteria shall be established that address the provision of services when siting an essential public facility. Essential public facilities should not be located outside cities or designated twenty-year urban growth areas unless the nature of their operations needs or dictates that they be sited in the rural area of the County. Policy 13.15: Essential public facilities shall be sited in places that enhance the region’s development strategy and that encourage their efficient use by the public. Policy 13.16: All jurisdictions shall identify existing essential public facilities including but not limited to: 1. Utility corridors, sewer, water, power and communication facilities; 2. All transportation facilities; 3. Landfills, solid waste handling, and disposal facilities; 4. Sewage treatment facilities; 5. Recreational facilities; 6. Schools; 7. Municipal facilities (city halls, fire stations, police stations, libraries, and post offices); 8. Parks; 9. State and local correctional facilities; 10. In-patient facilities, including substance abuse facilities 11. Mental health facilities; 12. Group homes; 13. Secure community transition facilities; 14. Any facility on the state ten-year capital plan maintained by the Office of March 16, 2016 14 Financial Management. Policy 13.17: All jurisdictions shall establish a countywide process for siting essential public facilities of region-wide significance. This process will include: 1. An inventory of needed facilities; 2. A method of fair share allocation of facilities; 3. Economic and other incentives to jurisdictions receiving such facilities; 4. A method of determining which jurisdiction is responsible for each facility; 5. A public involvement strategy; and 6. Assurance that the environment and public health and safety are protected. Policy 13.18: Essential public facilities which are identified by the County, by regional agreement, or by State or Federal government shall require public involvement through meetings and hearings, and involve review and comment from citizens and local jurisdictions. Policy 13.19: All jurisdictions shall strive to locate regional and essential public facilities so as to distribute them equitably countywide. No single community shall be required to absorb an undue share of the impacts of regional and essential facilities. 14. Historic Preservation Objective: To identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures that have historical or archaeological significance. Policy 14.1 The County and cities shall coordinate with local historic preservation groups to ensure coordination of plans and policies by the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Policy 14.2 The County and cities shall coordinate with local historic preservation groups and/or advisory groups as appropriate. March 16, 2016 15 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Capital Facilities: Capital Facilities are those physical features or assets which provide a public service such as, but not limited to: fire stations, water towers, police stations, libraries, highways, sewage treatments plants, communication, and recreation facilities. Development Impact Fees: Development impact fees mean a payment of money imposed upon development as a condition of development approval to pay for public facilities needed to serve new growth and development, and that is reasonably related to the new development that creates additional demand and need for public facilities, that is a proportionate share of the cost of the public facilities, and that is used for facilities that reasonably benefit the new development. Impact fee does not include a reasonable permit or application fee. Development Regulations: Development regulations means any controls placed on development or land use activities by a county or a city, including but not limited to: zoning ordinances, official controls, planned unit development ordinances, subdivision ordinances, and binding site plans ordinances. Development Standards: Development standards mean any required minimal functional standard which describes or defines how development is to occur. Development standards are intended to serve as an established level of expectation by which development is required to perform. Essential Public Facilities: Essential public facilities include those facilities that are typically difficult to site, such as: airports; state education facilities; state or regional transportation facilities; state and local correctional facilities; solid waste handling and disposal facilities; and in-patient facilities including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, group homes and other health facilities. Interlocal Agreements: Interlocal agreements mean any binding agreements, contracts, or other stipulations between two or more governing entities which implement the provisions of the County-wide Planning Policies. LAMIRD: Limited Areas of More Intense Rural Development (LAMIRDs) are an optional designation available through the Growth Management Act to recognize areas of rural March 16, 2016 16 development that are more intensive than the balance of the rural area. The LAMIRD designation allows for redevelopment and infill in historical rural towns and communities, as well as intensification and new development of isolated small businesses and small-scale recreational uses. Specific guidance for designation and development in LAMIRDs is provided in RCW 36.70A.070(5). Level of Service: A level of service is an indicator of the extent or degree of service provided by, or proposed to be provided by a public facility, such as, but not limited to, fire protection, water supply, sewage treatment, library services, highways, and communication and recreational services. Local Improvement District: Local improvement district means the legislative establishment of a special taxing district to pay for specific capital improvements. Municipal Services: Municipal services are those services in keeping with and/or required in incorporated cities such as, but not limited to, centralized sewage collection and treatment, public water systems, urban street infrastructure, power and storm water systems, emergency services, libraries, and government. Planned Unit Development: A planned unit development is the result of a site specific zone change, based on a binding site plan. The planned unit development zoning district is intended to encourage flexibility in design and development that will result in a more efficient and desirable use of land. Policy: A broad based statement of intent that gives management direction or guidance in the decision making process. The policy statement is used to select a primary course of action. Resource Lands: Resource lands mean those lands designated by the County which are to be protected from urban growth encroachments and incompatible land uses. Resource lands include all lands designated as Commercial Forest, Forest and Range, Agricultural Lands of Long-Term Commercial Significance, and Mineral Resource Lands. Transfer of Development Rights: Transfer of development rights are the conveyance of development rights to another parcel of land where March 16, 2016 17 restrictions places on development of the original parcel prevent its previously allowed development. Transfer of development rights are usually associated in a program which involves sending and receiving zones. Urban Growth Areas: Urban growth areas are those areas designated by the County or an incorporated city and approved by the County, in which urban growth is encourages. Urban growth areas are suitable and desirable for urban densities as determined by the sponsoring jurisdiction’s ability to provide urban services. Utilities: Utilities mean the supply, treatment, and distribution, as appropriate, of domestic water, sewage, stormwater, natural gas, electricity, telephone, cable television, microwave transmissions, and streets. Such utilities consist of both the service activity along with the physical facilities necessary for the utilities to be supplied. Utilities are supplied by a combination of general purpose local governments as well as private and community based organizations.