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Centralized utility service expansion is important for the County, since more than 95% of County soils are unsuitable for septic tanks. With increasing development, septic tanks can be a source of potential health hazards. Currently, the matrix provides connection criteria for single-family developments, subdivisions, -PD's, commercial establishments, and industrial establishments. _ Required connection to a centralized system is based upon a project's distance from the system as well as the density or intensity of the use. Since adoption of the plan and application of the matrix, a number of problems and concerns have arisen. While some of these are procedural, others are substantive. In conjunction with the county's Professional Services Advisory Committee (PSAC), staff has identified the major problems with the matrix. The matrix, as it is, is hard to understand. The matrix addresses different types of uses, different densities and intensities of uses, different locational criteria, and different connection standards. Combined, these factors make the matrix difficult to understand. In addition, the matrix uses square footage as an indicator of water and sewer demand and the determinant of whether a project needs to connect to the county system. As required by the matrix, all proposed non-residential projects having more than 5000 sq. ft. of floor area must connect to a centralized utility system. In applying the matrix, however, the county has found that square footage is not a good indicator of water usage or sewer generation. Some of the reasons why square footage is not a good indicator of water and sewer demand are that: * Square footage cannot capture all high utility users. For example, a 4,000 square foot restaurant, car wash, or laundry is not required to connect to the centralized system if it is located more than J mile from the system. However, these types of uses consume substantial amounts of water and generate substantial sewage. * A square footage requirement puts a costly requirement on low utility users. For example, a 5;500 square foot warehouse or contractor's trade building does not use much water and does not generate much sewage, but it is required to connect to the centralized system regardless of its location and distance from the system. Policy 5.9 of the Sanitary Sewer and Potable Water Sub -Elements Policy 5.9 of the Sanitary Sewer and Potable Water Sub -Elements provides criteria for use of centralized water and sewer services. This policy limits utilization of centralized utility services to those areas within the Urban Service Area (USA) of the county. At the time of comprehensive plan adoption, this policy was adequate. However, when the County amended its plan based on the stipulated settlement agreement and other amendments initiated by various applicants, certain policies were established to require clustering of residential developments within agricultural and conservation districts. To effectively implement these clustering policies, there needs to be an_ ability to provide centralized utility services outside of the USA. Policy 6.1 of the Sanitary Sewer and Potable Water Sub -Elements, Policy 6.1 of the Sanitary Sewer and Potable Water Sub -Elements provides criteria for the use of on-site water and wastewater treatment plants within the USA. As discussed above, the County must have the opportunity to allow use of on-site water and 121 MAY 0 199 BOOK S F- '