Carlsborg Urban Growth Area (UGA)

Background

On December 5, 2000, Clallam County established the 560-acre Carlsborg Urban Growth Area (UGA). As part of this designation, Clallam County:

Planning

On July 1, 1990, the Washington State Legislature enacted legislation under RCW 36.70A, otherwise known as the Growth Management Act of 1990 (GMA). Among other objectives, the Act directed local jurisdictions to encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner; and to reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development (RCW 36.70A.020). To achieve these and other objectives, the Act required local jurisdictions to designate Urban Growth Areas (UGA) where urban level development is to occur, and outside of which development can only occur if it is not urban in nature.

Carlsborg was designated an Urban Growth Area (UGA) in 2000 because of its urban characteristics including an industrial and commercial core, higher residential densities, and urban services and facilities such as community water, fire station, school, transit, trails, and post office.

The Board of Clallam County Commissioners established the Carlsborg Community Advisory Council by Resolution in 2001. The Carlsborg Community Advisory Council was comprised of seven members appointed by the Board of Commissioners who represented a cross-section of those who live and work in the Carlsborg Urban Growth Area boundary. The Carlsborg Community Advisory Council made recommendations for the growth and development of the Carlsborg Urban Growth Area.

The Carlsborg UGA consists of about 560 acres with an estimated 2017 population of 866 people.

Carlsborg Sewer Project

For at least the past two decades, consideration has been given to the development of a community sewer system for the Carlsborg Urban Growth Area. The primary reasons advanced for this are economic, environmental, and regulatory compliance. As one of the few areas in the county zoned for commercial and industrial use, development was severely limited due to the lack of urban services, particularly sewer services. There was also recognition that groundwater quality was being negatively impacted by increasing nitrate levels, for which existing septic is one source. Finally, the state Growth Management Act establishes the regulatory requirement for the provision of urban services in urban growth areas.

Land Use Planning

With the construction of a new sewer for the Carlsborg UGA, development standards have been modified to allow more urbanized development. Areas of review have been the Clallam County Comprehensive Plan (PDF) and Zoning Regulations (PDF) to reflect the construction of a sewer system and the anticipated developments that may occur as a result.

This map (PDF) shows the approved residential densities for the Carlsborg UGA. Other documents that will be reviewed for land use planning and update are the Carlsborg Capital Facilities Plan (2000) (PDF), Carlsborg Area Transportation Study (2008) (PDF), and Recommendations of the Carlsborg Community Advisory Council (2003) (PDF).