| Mason County has developed a plan that will bring sewer to all properties in the Belfair Urban Growth Area (UGA). The County has obtained funding for a wastewater reclamation plant and associated sewer lines to serve the core of Belfair. However, the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board is not allowing the release of those funds until the County comes into compliance with the Growth Management Act.
The specific problem is how the County plans on providing sewer for the rest of the UGA. In their latest attempt to satisfy the Hearings Board, the County’s consultants divided the UGA into four sections and spelled out how each will be developed. The areas are the downtown area, which has been funded; the area along Old Belfair Highway, to the east is what is being called the Newkirk area, and the southern area.
Now the plan has the County developing the Old Belfair Highway area with Local Improvement Districts, Real Estate Excise Tax One money, and grants and loans. The Newkirk area has two parts: an industrial development area to the north and more residential area to the south. The County plans on bringing sewers to the Newkirk industrial area in conjunction with the develop community as needed. And the Newkirk residential area and the southern area will have limited development until sewers are brought to those areas.
The goal is to limit the use of septic systems in the Belfair UGA. The County hopes the Hearings Board will accept this plan as bringing the UGA into compliance with GMA so the Belfair sewer funding will be released and the project can go forward as planned.
|
