31.04.205 Agricultural land conservation – Policies.
(1) Findings. [Policy No. 1] Based solely on growing capacity, productivity, and soil composition of the land within the Port Angeles planning area, there are not any agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance. Agricultural land uses which are found in this region, although not of long-term commercial significance, should be preserved to maintain productive agricultural use of land, to maintain economic benefit to residents of the region, to reduce reliance on food sources which originate outside the County and to maintain the rural character of the planning region.
(2) Conservation Strategy. [Policy No. 2] Maintain, enhance and conserve productive agricultural lands through the following means:
•Continue to provide tax incentives (open space or current use assessments);
•Continue to provide technical assistance, such as resource conservation plans prepared by the Clallam Conservation District or Soil Conservation Service;
•Allow and encourage small-scale agricultural uses within both rural and urban areas;
•Discourage incompatible uses on adjacent lands, through increased setbacks, limits on utility extensions in agricultural areas, right-to-practice agriculture ordinances, and notification to residential landowners of potential incompatible uses; and
•Work towards long-term (i.e., permanent) conservation through transfer of development rights or public purchase of development rights.
(3) Farm Land Use Maps. [Policy No. 3] Farm lands to be targeted for protection should be specifically identified and property owners contacted to determine their willingness to participate in protection programs. Such lands should enjoy the full protection of the “right to practice agriculture” ordinance as long as the farm use is to be continued.
(4) Purchase of Development Rights. [Policy No. 4] Develop a program for lasting, long-term conservation of agricultural lands based on public financial support.
(a) Focus the program on purchase of development rights in order to keep lands in private ownership. Once development rights are purchased, future development shall be restricted through such legal instruments as necessary to ensure permanent conservation of lands for the benefit of future generations.
(b) Work with the public and landowners to set priorities for the purchase of development rights. Priorities may be set based on development pressures, open space value, or environmental values.
(c) Development rights to agricultural lands should be acquired through voter approval of a general obligation bond for the purchase of development rights.
(5) Incompatible Development.
(a) [Policy No. 5] Public services and utilities within and adjacent to identified farms shall be designed to prevent negative impacts on agriculture and to maintain total farmland acreage, as follows:
(i) Water lines, sewer lines, and other public facilities should avoid crossing farmland subject to future protection programs;
(ii) Roads should not divide farmlands targeted for protection.
(b) [Policy No. 6] Continue to conserve all agricultural lands, whether designated for long-term commercial significance or not, through property tax reductions (current use assessments).
(6) Finfish Hatcheries. [Policy No. 7] Ensure that land uses adjacent to finfish hatcheries are compatible with the long-term commercial production of those hatcheries. Consideration shall be given to appropriate land use densities, land use practices, and maintenance of water quality standards.