8. Public Services and Facilities

Water, sewer, and drainage facilities are adequate for planned development in the Juanita Neighborhood. The goals and policies contained in the Utilities, Capital Facilities and Public Services Chapters of the Comprehensive Plan provide the general framework for these services and facilities.

UTILITIES

The Northshore Utility District and the City both provide utility service to the neighborhood.

The Northshore Utility District provides water service generally north of NE 124th Street and sanitary sewer service north of NE 116th Street. The City of Kirkland serves the remaining areas (see the Utilities Element). Sewer and water main extensions are typically installed by developers as part of a development project.

Encourage undergrounding of overhead utilities.

Overhead utility lines often disrupt significant public views and require more maintenance than underlines. View corridors provided by street systems should be protected and enhanced by placing utilities underground.

STORM WATER

Natural storm drainage systems should be used as one measure to protect the Juanita Creek and Forbes Creek Drainage Basins.

Juanita is part of the Juanita and Forbes Creek Drainage Basins. New development should ensure protection of the creeks (see Natural Environment section). One way to accomplish this is through the use of low impact development techniques, such as biofiltration swales and natural systems. Therefore, future development in Juanita should use natural systems for storm drainage purposes as much as possible.

Forbes Creek and Juanita Creek should be maintained or restored as functioning elements of the natural drainage system.

The restoration and maintenance of Forbes Creek and the associated wetlands is of special concern in order to serve drainage, aesthetic, educational, and biological functions (see Natural Environment Element).

Natural drainage systems are to be maintained.

The natural drainage system should be preserved and utilized according to the goals and policies in the Environment and Utilities Elements. Future development adjacent to streams should maintain the stream in an open, natural configuration or restore the stream if necessary.