Utilities and Capital Facilities

Utilities

Summary

The Utilities Element of the Redmond Comprehensive Plan provides policy direction for planning for and placing utilities in Redmond to support the community’s vision for planned growth, contribute to a high quality of life for Redmond residents and businesses, and protect Redmond’s natural environment and resources.

The City operates four utilities: water, wastewater, solid waste/recycling and stormwater, which fall under the management and oversight of staff in the Public Works, Planning, Technology and Information Services, and Finance Departments. In addition, the Utilities Element contains policies related to energy, telecommunications, and hazardous liquid pipelines. These additional utilities are managed by organizations other than the City of Redmond.

The planning and placement of utilities in Redmond:

• Supports the community’s vision for the location and amount of growth;
• Contributes to a high quality of life for Redmond residents and businesses by ensuring efficiently utility delivery; and
• Protects Redmond’s natural environmental resources.

RCW 36.70A.070.4 requires that communities have an "A utilities element consisting of the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities, including, but not limited to, electrical lines, telecommunication lines, and natural gas lines."

As part of the Redmond 2050 periodic update, staff will engage the community to identity opportunities and fill gaps in order to strengthen City's Utilities element as the City continues to grow.

Policy Considerations

Policy issues for review include -

• Planning for growth
• Internet and wireless telecommunications services 
• Climate change and sustainability 
• Maintenance and funding of aging infrastructure

First Draft of Updated Policies available for Review (June 2023)

The first draft of updated Utilities Element policies of the Comprehensive Plan is available for review. 

Utilities Element - Draft 1 | with policy guide to note changes

What's new in the update?

• Consolidated from 96  to 69 policies
  • Includes moving 10 policies to proposed Climate Change and Resiliency element
• Consolidated/updated outdated/programmatic policy language
• Update to note policy shift away from natural gas as energy source
• New policy on electrical grid reliability
• Updated solid waste service policies to include zero-waste practices, organics and composting

Next steps

Draft is available for review and comments this summer. Feedback received will be incorporated into a second draft to be tentatively published fall 2023.

Capital Facilities

Summary

The Capital Facilities Element of the Redmond Comprehensive Plan provides information on topics related to capital facilities, including: 

• An inventory of existing facilities; 
• Financial planning for future facility needs; 
• and Identifying lands useful for public purposes.

In addition, the element adopts by reference many functional plans.  

The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires jurisdictions that fully plan under the GMA, including Redmond, to include a capital facilities plan element in their comprehensive plans (RCW 36.70A.070(3)). Under the GMA, a capital facilities element must be adopted before a jurisdiction can:  

• Implement GMA impact fees;
• Impose certain taxes such as the real estate excise tax; and
• Qualify for certain state funding opportunities.

As part of the Redmond 2050 periodic update, staff will review the policies of the Capital Facilities element to ensure that its continues to guide the development and financing of the City's facilities and infrastructure, such as trails, water pipes, and the Redmond Senior and Community Center.

Policy Considerations

Policy issues for review include -

• Managing growth 
• addressing the needs of the City's urban centers
• Maintaining and adapting existing facilities

First Draft of Updated Policies available for Review (June 2023)

The first draft of updated Capital Facilities Element policies of the Comprehensive Plan is available for review. 

Capital Facilities Element - Draft 1 | with policy guide to note changes

What's new in the update?

• Update Plan horizon from 2030 to 2050
• Update level-of-service standards
• Ensure issues around equity are considered
• Updated unclear/outdated terminology
• Consolidate from 23 to 20 policies

Next steps

Draft is available for review and comments this summer. Feedback received will be incorporated into a second draft to be tentatively published fall 2023.