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Commissioner urges infrastructure-first rule before allowing high-density zoning
Summary
A commissioner told the board zoning must not outpace sewer, water and broadband capacity and urged mapping density near existing infrastructure; staff said some condensed development options require sewer and capacity can change rapidly.
A commissioner repeatedly pressed the board to require that infrastructure be in place before approving high-density zoning, warning that maps allowing dense development without sewer, water or high-speed internet would leave the county with projects that cannot be supported. "We have to have infrastructure in place first," the commissioner said, urging the board to ensure overlay maps align with existing services and to avoid approving zoning on speculative timelines.
Staff responded that certain condensed development options would require sewer and that the county currently communicates capacity to developers, but capacity can change. Commissioners asked for clearer mapping of existing sewer capacity, and at least one requested that the UDO restrict multifamily or mixed-use projects to areas adjacent to city limits or where sewer is already available.
