31.03.250 Forest land conservation – Policies.
(1) Lands meeting the definition or criteria for commercial forest lands in the Clallam County Comprehensive Plan should be designated as commercial forest lands of long-term commercial significance. In general, these lands have a minimum parcel size of 80 acres, are currently forested, and have a forest land grade which is capable of growing trees at a commercially viable growth rate.
(2) Land found in close association with large blocks of commercial forest land and which buffer commercial forest lands from rural development patterns should be designated for very low density forest residential uses.
(a) Residential densities on rural lands adjacent to large blocks of commercial forest land should generally be Rural Very Low, except in those areas where land use patterns or previous zoning allowed one unit per five acres, in which case the property should be designated rural low.
(b) Rural lands should ensure compatibility with adjacent commercial forest land use through increased structural setbacks and recognition of the Right-to-Practice Forestry Ordinance on adjacent lands.
(c) Flexible zoning techniques, whereby a landowner transfers density to minimize conflict with adjacent commercial forest land use and which sets aside land for wildlife, resource production and/or open space shall be allowed within these zones. (Example: a landowner which owns 80 acres designated Rural Very Low has four residential dwelling rights. The landowner could transfer this density to create three parcels five acres in size, and leave the remaining land (65 acres) for forest use with one dwelling unit.)
(d) Landowners within the rural lands should be notified of property tax options for conserving forest lands.
(3) Existing managed public access to public forest lands for recreation should be maintained.
(4) Except in a case where an error might have been made in application of the criteria designating commercial forest land, these designated commercial forest lands shall remain in this classification throughout the life of the plan (20 years) unless the following criteria are met:
(a) The change will not affect the commercial viability of the surrounding forest land; and
(b) The County finds that commercial forestry cannot generate a reasonable return on investment when compared to other forested properties and that growth could not be directed to other nonforested rural lands in the same vicinity.