Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/850954
E n s u r i n g a S t r o n g F u t u r e 41 | P a g e Development Services The goal of Development Services is to help process projects in the most efficient manner possible and provide guidance and support to developments to meet District requirements. This focus area assists developers, engineers and private property owners with their local water, sewer, and recycled water projects. A thorough plan check and review of a project helps guide customers through the steps needed to approve, construct, install and/or incorporate new facilities into the District. They also provide the necessary tools and information throughout the development process to enable customers to connect to District services. Planning and Compliance Two of the industry's most significant factors impacting the timing and sizing of infrastructure improvements, and highlighting the need for sound planning, are the reduction in per-capita water use and wastewater flows. The District's Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan provides a roadmap for long term water and wastewater reliability. It provides a comprehensive tool to guide the District in the planning, development, and budgeting of water, recycled water, and wastewater system projects needed to meet required service levels and demands of existing and future customers. Integral to this planning effort are regulatory compliance and the development of local water supplies and wastewater treatment to mitigate the dependence on outside suppliers. Every aspect of project implementation and operation of facilities requires extensive coordination with regulatory agencies and has stringent permitting conditions and regulatory requirements. The goal of compliance is to ensure that the District complies with required regulations while developing and operating projects and facilities. Right of Way Acquisition and Enforcement The District currently holds over 1,750 easements encompassing approximately 810 acres and owns over 363 acres of real property for water and wastewater facilities; right of way acquisition and enforcement is essential to safeguard District interests in these assets. In addition to managing existing properties and easements, right of way is responsible for acquiring real properties and easements for new capital projects and developments within the District's service area.