New development must annex for sewer service

By Matthew Graham

The Clackamas Review, Nov 17, 2009

New development in urban North Clackamas may be required to annex into the nearest city before building as the county attempts to codify its desire to get out of the business of providing urban services.

The count is developing a policy that would require new development – not infill in already urbanized areas – to join a city before it can receive sewer service.

“What this does is it says future growth would need to occur through a city,” said county attorney Chris Storey. “But there’s going to be some obvious exceptions; one is infill in (Clackamas County Service District #1) where there’s no city close, two would be mandatory connections ordered by (the Department of Environmental Quality) in cases of failed septic systems.”

That means development in the Oak Grove area wouldn’t be affected, but growth around Happy Valley and Damascus probably would.

The move was triggered by the long-standing practice of CCSD #1. Mike Kuenzi is the director of Water Environment Services, the county department that oversees the district. He said, “CCSD has always been kind of a no-man’s land in that if someone comes to us and wants service and we can provide it, we do.”

But that’s a disincentive for annexation, which frustrates cities, commissioners said.

“The problem is if you allow the county to (provide sewer service), you don’t meet the goal of creating complete communities in the cities,” said County Commission Chairwoman Lynn Peterson.

Storey said cities have also been complaining about it.

“The argument we’ve been hearing from the cities is, as (developments pop up) next to cities and are receiving sewer service from the county, they were utilizing other city services – fire protection, parks, police – without paying property taxes to support them.”

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