Seattle Public Utilities proposes citywide system-development charge to share costs of new mains

Seattle Public Utilities presented a package of three ordinances to the Parks, Utilities, Technology Committee on May 14 to create and raise system development charges for water, sewer and stormwater so developers and property owners who connect to the utility system pay a shared fee that can help fund mainline extensions. The legislation was presented for briefing and discussion; committee members did not vote on the ordinances at the meeting.

SPU General Manager and CEO Andrew Lee said the goal of the proposal is to reduce what the department described as an inequity: interior parcels without mains often face mainline-extension costs that can run “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” while neighboring properties with mains in the street pay far less. Lee and SPU staff said the proposal would increase SDCs for all new connections so the pooled revenue could be used to cost‑share expensive extensions and make redevelopment more predictable and feasible.

The proposal would: revise water SDCs, establish new SDCs for drainage and wastewater, authorize a municipal assessment reimbursement area authority (a latecomer/assessment mechanism), and add staff and…