31.03.270 Rural land – Policies.
(1) Rural Centers (Policy 1). Support new development within the Diamond Point-Sunshine Acres, and Blyn Rural Centers consistent with the guidelines and criteria of CCC 31.02.263.
(2) Rural Commercial (Policy 2). Support new development within designated rural commercial lands consistent with the guidelines and criteria under CCC 31.02.263.
(3) Home Business (Policy 3). Home-based businesses should be encouraged when the use is not intrusive to the surrounding residential character of the neighborhood.
(a) Home-based business that have little, if any, outward characteristics of a business should be allowed in all areas.
(b) Home-based business that have some outward characteristics of a business should be allowed only when consideration is made for the rural character of the surrounding neighborhood.
(4) Neighborhood Commercial (Policy 4). Commercial uses limited to neighborhood convenience services should be allowed within rural residential areas when located and designed to be compatible with surrounding land uses. Such uses should be sited only after involvement of the neighborhood in the siting process.
(5) Industrial Use (Policy 5). Allow campus-style light manufacturing, research facilities or corporate offices to locate outside urban growth areas or rural centers when meeting the following standards:
(a) Existing transportation networks must serve the site which are adequate to handle traffic without adversely impacting adjacent land uses. When locating in rural areas, significant increases in traffic volumes should not be expected. Occasional deliveries of materials or supplies are permitted; consistent traffic should be prohibited unless accessing directly onto Highway 101 at improved intersections.
(b) The types of light manufacturing, research facilities or corporate offices should be limited to those uses that will not cause impacts to adjoining lands from dust, noise, light and glare or other nuisances inconsistent with the need for peace and quiet in rural areas.
(c) These facilities should be located on large parcels of land (minimum of 20 to 40 acres), buffered such that buildings and parking areas are not readily visible from streets or adjoining properties, and self-contained with services such as sewage and water.
(6) Rural Residential Densities.
(a) Policy 6. The Sequim-Dungeness region should allow a range of rural densities from one dwelling unit per acre to one dwelling unit per 20 acres. The conversion of rural areas into higher densities should be discouraged, except where clear public benefit is demonstrated through such mechanisms as planned unit developments. More intensive rural densities and nonresidential rural land uses should be limited to and contained within those areas already predominately built out at such densities and/or land uses by 1990 and be designated consistent with the guidelines and criteria under CCC 31.02.263. Lands previously zoned as forestry 1, commercial forest, or commercial forest/residential mixed use which did not meet the criteria for designation of forestlands of long-term commercial significance should be re-designated as Rural Very Low, unless the property was previously zoned at a higher density.
(b) Policy 7. The extension or existence of public water service in designated rural areas lands shall not be justification for higher density than that established by the Sequim-Dungeness Regional Plan. Water purveyor plans must demonstrate that new facilities are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and won’t require increased densities to finance the planned facilities.
(7) Flexible Zoning (Policy 8). All rural residential zones should allow the transfer of density within the ownership boundaries subject to a proposed land division, with no new lot being created less than one acre in area, and total number of lots determined based on the underlying zoning density. This flexible zoning technique may achieve affordable housing goals and preserve the rural character by having a variety of housing lot sizes scattered throughout rural areas.
(8) Recreation (Policy 9). Standards shall be set for recreational uses in rural areas, including recreational vehicle parks, limited camping facilities along non-motorized trails such as the Olympic Discovery Trail, and commercial outdoor oriented activities:
(a) Standards for buffering and landscaping to ensure compatibility with surrounding rural land uses shall be accomplished;
(b) Standards for noise, traffic, light, and glare, and other nuisance characteristics;
(c) Such uses shall be located on a minimum parcel size of five acres.
(9) Historic and Cultural Resources. Please refer to the County-wide Comprehensive Plan for goals and policies to conserve historic and cultural resources throughout Clallam County.