(1) GMA Goals. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development.

Encourage the retention of open space and development of recreational opportunities such as non-motorized trails, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks.

Protect the environment and enhance the State’s high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water.

Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures that have historical or archaeological significance.

(2) Definition. The Growth Management Act does not define rural lands. Rural lands are defined as what they are not: they are not designated for urban growth, agriculture, forest, or mineral resources. The County is required to have a rural element which permits land uses that are compatible with the rural character of such lands and provide for a variety of rural densities.

(3) Rural Growth. During the past 20 years, the unincorporated area of the Sequim-Dungeness region has grown almost five times more in population than the City of Sequim, the area’s only incorporated city. Over 9,300 people moved into areas outside of the City, while only 2,000 moved into the City of Sequim. Nearly 70 percent of the regional planning area population lives in a rural area. People moving to the Sequim-Dungeness region are looking for a rural lifestyle and are generally moving from a more urbanized environment. As a result, each person’s perception of what is rural might be based on where they used to live.

Unchecked rural growth does not satisfy the goal of the Clallam County Comprehensive Plan to reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development or encouraging development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner.

(4) Rural Character and Rural Services. The character of the rural area has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. In fact, 20 years ago, much of the planning area would not have been considered as rural lands, but as agriculture or forestlands.

Rural areas are characterized by limited urban-type services such as fire, police and other limited governmental services. Urban-type facilities such as sewers, municipal water systems, curbs, sidewalks, street lights, and public transit are generally not present, but may be sporadically located based on need or old service areas. Rural areas are characterized by diverse, sometimes incompatible, land uses and living styles. Rural areas have a variety of residential densities, and are not characterized by consistent zoning patterns as may be found in suburban areas. Small and large scale resource production is often interspersed with rural areas, such as agriculture and forestry.

In order to make efficient use of scarce public resources, and to not encourage growth in rural areas, limits on the types and quantity of public facilities and services could be implemented. For example, a higher priority for transportation system expenditures (such as roads, trails and transit) could be given to urban areas over rural areas.

It is unquestionable that rural areas require some level of public services and facilities, such as law enforcement, fire protection, roads, and schools. In some areas of the region, water and sewer services may also be needed to address public health or environmental quality, such as in existing high-density developments in the rural areas. The Sequim-Dungeness Regional Plan needs to allow flexibility for certain urban services to be extended into rural areas, with standards to ensure that growth into rural areas does not take precedence over growth into urban areas.

(5) Rural Centers. There are several “rural centers” or “rural villages” that are located outside urban growth areas, as well as several areas previously designated for commercial use. These areas are part of the existing rural character and the rights of the present property owners should generally be maintained. Expansion of these existing commercial areas should be limited, and the types of uses allowed in these areas should be restricted to those where uses of such type, scale, size, or intensity already existed as of July 1, 1990, and that do not cause increased need for public expenditures, such as roads and fire protection. These goals can be achieved by formally designating them as LAMIRDs.

(6) Commercial Uses. In some neighborhoods home-based industries, such as bed and breakfast inns, cabinet shops, and art galleries are considered appropriate, while in other areas the neighborhood is primarily residential and such uses would be a great interference with the rural character. It is clear that any rural land use categories developed for the Sequim-Dungeness region need to make allowances for these types of uses to be permitted; provided, that they are consistent with the existing character of the neighborhood in which they are proposed.

Most neighborhoods, even in rural areas, also require some services which are convenient, such as a small neighborhood grocery store, restaurant and gas station. The Agnew Grocery is one example of a rural neighborhood store, appropriately located and sized for the community it serves. Not all of the rural neighborhoods within this regional plan have convenient services. It is possible that the location of these services might be requested in the time period of this plan.

(7) Housing Densities. The types of housing developments considered appropriate for the rural areas varies within the Sequim-Dungeness region. Previous land use classifications and the desires of property owners developed a clear pattern of larger lots in the southern portion of the region, towards the Olympic Mountains. Similar areas of large lots exist in the areas east of Sequim, including the Miller Peninsula. In the Dungeness Valley, however, lots tend to be between one and five acres in area and are compatible with the community in this subregion.

The Sequim-Dungeness Regional Plan establishes land use patterns by neighborhood, with areas south of Highway 101 and east of Sequim having larger lot sizes, areas along the Dungeness River having larger lots in order to protect the critical resources of the river, and areas north of Highway 101 in the Dungeness Valley having a range of densities based on the existing conditions.

The proposed rural land use categories offer a range of rural residential densities (from one dwelling per acre to one dwelling per 20 acres) and a variety of nonresidential rural land use categories. More intensive rural densities and non-residential rural land uses should be designated as LAMIRDs and contained within those areas already predominately built out at such densities and/or land uses.

(8) Historical and Cultural Resources. The Sequim-Dungeness regional planning area has plentiful historical and cultural resources. Resources of significance include the Dungeness School, John Hyer Farm, Blue Mountain School, Emery Farmstead, Dungeness River Bridge, Manis Mastodon Site, McAlmond House, U.S. Quarantine Station Surgeon’s Residence, New Dungeness Light Station, New Dungeness, Graveyard Spit, Gierin Farmstead, Port Williams, and Washington Harbor.