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The following policies guide implementation of urban growth areas:

(1) Annexation.

(a) Annexation of lands within urban growth areas which are adjacent to existing cities should be encouraged.

(b) The cities and County, in coordination with existing and ultimate service providers, should develop an annexation plan which includes annexation of land characterized by urban development and a phased program of annexation consistent with the extension of services and the development of land in accordance with the city’s comprehensive plan and capital facilities plan.

(c) In order to encourage continued investment in public infrastructure within urban growth areas prior to annexation, such as roads, electrical service, water and sewer, the cities, County and other public service providers should develop agreements which would reimburse the service provider for capital improvements which would be acquired by the city upon annexation.

(d) Annexations should form logical boundaries and not isolate service providers, either the County or special purpose districts (PUD, fire, etc.). Cities should be prohibited from annexation just of commercial/industrial tax bases without accepting responsibility for service of adjacent residential or other nonresidential areas.

(e) In order to provide continuity in environmental protection, education and community outreach, the cities should continue to work with Clallam County and other agencies in implementation of watershed management plans and other environmental programs, if any.

(f) Urban growth that requires extension of sewer or water facilities shall not be allowed within the Port Angeles Urban Growth Area until an annexation plan has been agreed upon by the City of Port Angeles and Clallam County and UGA Urban Services and Development Agreements have been agreed upon by the City of Port Angeles and Clallam County Public Utility District; provided that the City may agree to extend the services prior to annexation upon completion of a utility extension agreement with a developer.

(2) Urban growth areas shall recognize and encourage development of historic sites within their areas.

(3) Public facilities and services necessary to support urban development will be specifically identified for provision within the designated urban growth areas of Clallam County through regional or subarea comprehensive plans.

(4) Urban services to be provided within UGAs should include, at a minimum, provision for sanitary waste, solid waste disposal systems, water systems, urban roads and pedestrian facilities, transit systems, stormwater systems, police and fire and emergency services systems, electrical and communication systems, school and health care facilities, and neighborhood and/or community parks.

(5) Urban services/facilities required to meet the needs of new development shall be provided, or shall be planned to be available within six (6) years, to meet the levels of services established for such services within each UGA. The types of urban services/facilities and levels of service should be established in regional or subarea plans.

(6) Urban services shall be provided and constructed in accordance with the design and construction standards as specified in the UGA Urban Services and Development Agreement required by the County-wide Planning Policies for Joint Planning and Contiguous and Orderly Development.

(7) Services and facilities which are not available at the time of the development project giving rise to the need for such services shall be included in a financially feasible capital facilities element of the Comprehensive Plan for the city responsible for such service provision, and/or in the appropriate plans of the service provided.

(8) Before extension or construction of urban services, the city or service provider shall demonstrate the financial capability for continued operation of the facility.

(9) The County and the cities will ensure appropriate techniques for managing future growth consistent with the designation of urban growth areas, such as a minimum density within the UGA and a maximum density outside the UGA. Residential densities exceeding one unit per acre should be considered urban; however, net densities within urban growth areas should increase as urban growth and development occurs within the UGA. Land use plans within urban growth areas should be established toward this objective with a range of densities for relatively low density single-family development and some lands at a range of densities both allowing and encouraging multifamily development.

(10) The County, in coordination with the adjacent city, shall consider the need for future expansion of urban growth areas beyond the projected twenty (20) year period required by the Growth Management Act. Special density considerations shall be given at the edge of urban growth areas, if determined necessary based on a land use analysis, so that future extension of urban growth areas and urban services allows conversion to more efficient urban patterns. Special density considerations could include reduced densities or cluster development options. Such considerations shall occur during preparation and adoption of joint city/county comprehensive plans for the unincorporated urban growth area.