Before ordering any improvements or submitting to vote any proposition for incurring any indebtedness, the district commissioners shall adopt a general comprehensive plan for the type or types of facilities the district proposes to provide. A district may prepare a separate general comprehensive plan for each of these services and other services that districts are permitted to provide, or the district may combine any or all of its comprehensive plans into a single general comprehensive plan.

(1) For a general comprehensive plan of a water supply system, the commissioners shall investigate the several portions and sections of the district for the purpose of determining the present and reasonably foreseeable future needs thereof; shall examine and investigate, determine, and select a water supply or water supplies for such district suitable and adequate for present and reasonably foreseeable future needs thereof; and shall consider and determine a general system or plan for acquiring such water supply or water supplies, and the lands, waters, and water rights and easements necessary therefor, and for retaining and storing any such waters, and erecting dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, and pipe lines to convey the same throughout such district. There may be included as part of the system the installation of fire hydrants at suitable places throughout the district. The commissioners shall determine a general comprehensive plan for distributing such water throughout such portion of the district as may then reasonably be served by means of subsidiary aqueducts and pipe lines, and a long-term plan for financing the planned projects and the method of distributing the cost and expense thereof, including the creation of local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts, and shall determine whether the whole or part of the cost and expenses shall be paid from revenue or general obligation bonds.

(2) For a general comprehensive plan for a sewer system, the commissioners shall investigate all portions and sections of the district and select a general comprehensive plan for a sewer system for the district suitable and adequate for present and reasonably foreseeable future needs thereof. The general comprehensive plan shall provide for treatment plants and other methods and services, if any, for the prevention, control, and reduction of water pollution and for the treatment and disposal of sewage and industrial and other liquid wastes now produced or which may reasonably be expected to be produced within the district and shall, for such portions of the district as may then reasonably be served, provide for the acquisition or construction and installation of laterals, trunk sewers, intercepting sewers, syphons, pumping stations or other sewage collection facilities, septic tanks, septic tank systems or drainfields, and systems for the transmission and treatment of wastewater. The general comprehensive plan shall provide a long-term plan for financing the planned projects and the method of distributing the cost and expense of the sewer system and services, including the creation of local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts; and provide whether the whole or some part of the cost and expenses shall be paid from revenue or general obligation bonds.

(3) For a general comprehensive plan for a reclaimed water system, the commissioners shall investigate all portions and sections of the district and select a general comprehensive plan for a reclaimed water system for the district suitable and adequate for present and reasonably foreseeable future needs thereof. The general comprehensive plan must provide for treatment plants or the use of existing treatment plants and other methods and services, if any, for reclaiming water and must, for such portions of the district as may then reasonably be served, provide for a general system or plan for acquiring the lands and easements necessary therefor, including retaining and storing reclaimed water, and for the acquisition or construction and installation of mains, transmission mains, pumping stations, hydrants, or other facilities and systems for the reclamation and transmission of reclaimed water throughout such district for such uses, public and private, as authorized by law. The general comprehensive plan must provide a long-term plan for financing the planned projects and the method of distributing the cost and expense of the reclaimed water system and services, including the creation of local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts; and provide whether the whole or some part of the cost and expenses must be paid from revenue or general obligation bonds.

(4) For a general comprehensive plan for a drainage system, the commissioners shall investigate all portions and sections of the district and adopt a general comprehensive plan for a drainage system for the district suitable and adequate for present and future needs thereof. The general comprehensive plan shall provide for a system to collect, treat, and dispose of stormwater or surface waters, including use of natural systems and the construction or provision of culverts, stormwater pipes, ponds, and other systems. The general comprehensive plan shall provide for a long-term plan for financing the planned projects and provide for a method of distributing the cost and expense of the drainage system, including local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts, and provide whether the whole or some part of the cost and expenses shall be paid from revenue or general obligation bonds.

(5) For a general comprehensive plan for street lighting, the commissioners shall investigate all portions and sections of the district and adopt a general comprehensive plan for street lighting for the district suitable and adequate for present and future needs thereof. The general comprehensive plan shall provide for a system or systems of street lighting, provide for a long-term plan for financing the planned projects, and provide for a method of distributing the cost and expense of the street lighting system, including local improvement districts or utility local improvement districts, and provide whether the whole or some part of the cost and expenses shall be paid from revenue or general obligation bonds.

(6) The commissioners may employ such engineering and legal service as in their discretion is necessary in carrying out their duties.

(7) Any general comprehensive plan or plans shall be adopted by resolution and submitted to an engineer designated by the legislative authority of the county in which fifty-one percent or more of the area of the district is located, and to the director of health of the county in which the district or any portion thereof is located, and must be approved in writing by the engineer and director of health, except that a comprehensive plan relating to street lighting shall not be submitted to or approved by the director of health. The general comprehensive plan shall be approved, conditionally approved, or rejected by the director of health and by the designated engineer within sixty days of their respective receipt of the plan. However, this sixty-day time limitation may be extended by the director of health or engineer for up to an additional sixty days if sufficient time is not available to review adequately the general comprehensive plans.

Before becoming effective, the general comprehensive plan shall also be submitted to, and approved by resolution of, the legislative authority of every county within whose boundaries all or a portion of the district lies. The general comprehensive plan shall be approved, conditionally approved, or rejected by each of the county legislative authorities pursuant to the criteria in RCW 57.02.040 for approving the formation, reorganization, annexation, consolidation, or merger of districts. The resolution, ordinance, or motion of the legislative body that rejects the comprehensive plan or a part thereof shall specifically state in what particular the comprehensive plan or part thereof rejected fails to meet these criteria. The general comprehensive plan shall not provide for the extension or location of facilities that are inconsistent with the requirements of RCW 36.70A.110. Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a county from rejecting a proposed plan because it is in conflict with the criteria in RCW 57.02.040. Each general comprehensive plan shall be deemed approved if the county legislative authority fails to reject or conditionally approve the plan within ninety days of the plan's submission to the county legislative authority or within thirty days of a hearing on the plan when the hearing is held within ninety days of submission to the county legislative authority. However, a county legislative authority may extend this ninety-day time limitation by up to an additional ninety days where a finding is made that ninety days is insufficient to review adequately the general comprehensive plan. In addition, the commissioners and the county legislative authority may mutually agree to an extension of the deadlines in this section.

If the district includes portions or all of one or more cities or towns, the general comprehensive plan shall be submitted also to, and approved by resolution of, the legislative authorities of the cities and towns before becoming effective. The general comprehensive plan shall be deemed approved by the city or town legislative authority if the city or town legislative authority fails to reject or conditionally approve the plan within ninety days of the plan's submission to the city or town or within thirty days of a hearing on the plan when the hearing is held within ninety days of submission to the county legislative authority. However, a city or town legislative authority may extend this time limitation by up to an additional ninety days where a finding is made that insufficient time exists to adequately review the general comprehensive plan within these time limitations. In addition, the commissioners and the city or town legislative authority may mutually agree to an extension of the deadlines in this section.

Before becoming effective, the general comprehensive plan shall be approved by any state agency whose approval may be required by applicable law. Before becoming effective, any amendment to, alteration of, or addition to, a general comprehensive plan shall also be subject to such approval as if it were a new general comprehensive plan. However, only if the amendment, alteration, or addition affects a particular city or town, shall the amendment, alteration, or addition be subject to approval by such particular city or town governing body.

Finding—Purpose—1997 c 447: See note following RCW 70.05.074.

Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c 230: See notes following RCW 57.02.001.

Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17: See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.