Planners flag water, SDCs and wildfire risk as constraints on densification

Multiple commissioners raised infrastructure and public-safety constraints on enabling denser development. One commissioner warned that small water mains and limited fire flows could make higher-density infill risky in wildfire-prone or poorly served neighborhoods, noting that sprinklers do not solve distribution or pressure shortfalls (SEG 631–637, SEG 1972–1996). A staff member explained county code requires existing infrastructure to support a proposed development or for the developer to pay for upgrades through SDCs and similar mechanisms (SEG 1943–1951).

Participants discussed policy options: restrict higher-density allowances to areas served by city-level water and sewer, create a 'sustainable housing' overlay that guarantees utilities before allowing reduced setbacks, or pursue state and federal funding to extend mains. A commissioner urged proactive planning to avoid ad hoc, uncoordinated infill that could further strain systems and complicate emergency response (SEG 1768–1787, SEG 1816–1830).