31.03.455 Sequim-West Neighborhood.
(1) Description. [Policy No. 1] This area includes lands to the northwest, west and southwest of the City of Sequim.
(2) Critical Areas.
(a) [Policy No. 2] Several critical areas have been designated within this area, including the Dungeness River, Cassalery Creek, and lands with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water.
(b) [Policy No. 3] For policies governing protection of the designated critical areas, please refer to CCC 31.03.195.
(3) Resource Lands. [Policy No. 4] Forest lands of long-term commercial significance have been designated just south of this neighborhood. Land uses adjoining that land shall ensure continued viability of long-term forest production, with increased setbacks from the forest line and notification of potential incompatible uses required during new development.
(4) Transportation.
(a) Policy 5. This neighborhood includes several circulation systems that are critical to the regional ability to move people and goods including Highway 101, River Road, Priest Road, Hendrickson Road, and Old Olympic Highway. In addition, the abandoned railroad corridor (Railroad Bridge Park) provides a non-motorized link to the Olympic Discovery Trail from Carlsborg to Sequim and public transit uses these principal routes.
(b) [Policy No. 6] Portions of the Sequim Bypass are planned to go through this neighborhood. It is imperative that new highway construction be assured of minimal congestion caused by new growth. Expansion of urban growth area boundaries in order to cater to the highway traffic shall be discouraged.
(c) [Policy No. 7] Please see Figure 4 for planned improvements to circulation along Hendrickson and Priest Roads. In addition, the County and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe should work cooperatively to ensure safe access to the planned Natural History Center.
(d) [Policy No. 8] Old Olympic Highway must be continually monitored for meeting LOS standards in this area. This section of highway carries large volumes of traffic and may not maintain acceptable standards. Alternatives to increasing capacity of the road should be sought, such as increased transit service and other demand management strategies.
(5) Open Space and Greenbelts. [Policy No. 9] The Dungeness River has been designated as an open space corridor for the benefit of fish, wildlife, flood protection, people and open space. Maintaining the river corridor for these benefits is critical. In addition, the River separates the urbanizing areas of Carlsborg and Sequim. Development along Highway 101 adjacent to the Dungeness River should be low-intensity, maintaining rural character and open space values.
(6) Public Services and Facilities.
(a) [Policy No. 10] This neighborhood includes some pockets of higher urban type densities close to the City of Sequim. These developments require increased public services and facilities, such as police, fire and health care.
(b) [Policy No. 11] The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is planning a natural history center adjoining the Dungeness River; this location would be adjoining the Railroad Bridge Park. The Dungeness River Greenway Concept Plan also envisions other public access potential along portions of the Dungeness River in this area, if cooperatively implemented with landowners.
(7) Land Use.
(a) Policy 12. Lands along the Dungeness River are designated for low density rural uses, due to environmental constraints. While some lands outside the river corridor in this area have been developed in parcels of one acre or less with roadway systems and other public service and facilities designed to handle this development, a significant portion of this area remains in larger parcel sizes. This area should be designated for Rural Neighborhood Conservation (five-acre base density) subject to optional innovative zoning techniques that are triggered by either specific neighborhood circumstances (overlay technique) or specific parcel criteria (cluster technique), except where a LAMIRD is designated according to the provisions of CCC 31.02.263.
(b) Policy 13. New land divisions in this area must consider the impact on aquifer recharge areas. Sewage disposal must meet local health code standards and monitoring of groundwater quality should be an ongoing effort.