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I policies. 'As a result, there are no rural areas of the county that would qualify for USA expansion and therefore higher densities based on the existence of water and sewer service. Therefore, it is important for the county to maintain its connection policies in a manner that limits the number and geographic extent of properties that lie outside the USA and are allowed to connect to water and/or sewer service. USA = Utility System Expansion Since the County adopted its Urban Service Area in 1990, the USA has been the basis for utility system expansion. Essentially, the USA established the area where water and sewer service would be provided and the area where it would be prohibited. By so doing, the Urban Service Area has provided the basis for effective utility system planning and capital improvements programming. Because of the Urban Service Area, the utility system has grown in an efficient and effective manner. That has involved providing water and sewer services in the higher density urban areas, and limiting utility service outside of the USA. By so doing, the utility system has avoided some of the problems that occur when water system expansion extends into rural areas to serve very low density residential uses or single, low volume non-residential uses. Those problems include poor water quality from low flow velocities within lines, increased maintenance costs from line flushing, and the waste of saleable potable water inherent in flushing maintenance activities. To avoid those negative impacts to the utility system, utility connection agreements to serve properties outside the USA should be limited to looped systems or limited system extensions paid for entirely by the owner (developer) of the property served and designed to serve multiple uses such as the three projects located along 12'b Street. ANALYSIS As structured, the proposed amendment expands the current connection exception to include approved existing places of worship and camp/retreat uses that lie outside the USA, subject to three important provisions. One provision is that by June 30, 2016 the place of worship and/or camp (retreat) owner must submit their application for utilities connection to Utility Services. That provision establishes a very short window for the project owners to apply for connection. Also, the connection application process allows Utility Services to evaluate availability of capacity, system impacts, system improvements, design specifications, and any necessary conditions associated with a specific proposal for service/connection. Any such approval is implemented via a formal connection agreement. I A secondprovision is that connection to water and/or sewer service shall not be justification for a density increase. That provision prevents a connection exemption from being used as a de -facto land use change. The third)I provision requires that any and all improvements must meet or exceed Utility Services standards and all costs associated with designing, permitting, and constructing system improvements and connections to be borne by the property owner (developer). That provision ensures that the initial capital costs for connecting properties outside the USA are not borne by the existing system and its rate payers. 144