Rural Low Density

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide for low density rural areas with lots that are large enough for many types of rural land uses. Rural low density provides a buffer between high density rural areas and areas with lower densities.

Land is capable of supporting low density rural type development with a few natural constraints. Land should be level to slightly sloping (0 to 15 percent slopes), have well drained to poorly drained soils capable of supporting individual septic systems; may have a moderate component of wetlands. Appropriate areas are relatively free of flood, landslide, seismic or erosion hazards.

The area has moderate resource management potential with dispersed hobby farms, woodlots and larger agricultural use lands present. These low density areas could be placed adjacent to resource lands since their impact would be less than more intensive development. Current parcel sizes are between 5 acres and 11 acres in size.

This area is too far from the urban area to enable cost-effective provision of urban services. Uses do not require the extension of urban services. The area may be served by community water systems if local water is not of good quality. Rural type County road standards would apply.

This area has a mix of very large lot residential development, scattered residences and small hobby farms or woodlots. The area may be used as a transition between lower intensity rural uses and lands with good potential for resource uses. This designation is appropriate on lands with small-scale agricultural uses (animal raising, truck farming, etc.). This designation may be used along rural arterials to provide sufficient setbacks/ buffers for residential uses.

Rural Neighborhood Conservation

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide for low density rural areas with lots that are large enough for many types of rural land uses with optional innovative zoning techniques that are triggered either by the size of the parcel (cluster technique) or by the varying character of the many existing neighborhoods found within this zoning district (overlay technique).

These areas are relatively level (0 to 10 percent slopes), have well drained to moderately well drained soils capable of supporting individual septic systems, have only a minor component of wetlands and are relatively free of flood, landslide, seismic or erosion hazards.

Rural quality of life will be maintained by the low base density, as well as by the optional cluster technique that retains at least 70 percent in open space, with development subject to cluster design objectives and standards designed to reduce impacts on sensitive areas and retain woodlots and agricultural land, and other rural open space infill at a density consistent with the substantial residential development already existing in the neighborhood will not result in the inappropriate conversion of large tracts of undeveloped lands and will be consistent with the visual compatibility of rural development with the surrounding rural area.

These areas are generally located near major transportation corridors. Uses do not require the extension of urban services. Infrastructure and services to support infill will already exist in neighborhoods that are already substantially developed. Development under the optional innovative zoning techniques must be served by community water systems and County road standards will apply.

This area has a variety of development patterns, including many neighborhoods already characterized by (a) substantial development and the existence of ample services and facilities that would support infill at existing densities, and (b) neighborhoods with larger lots that would be suitable for a pattern of development that would retain at least 70 percent in open space.

Rural Character Conservation

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide for a diversity of rural lot sizes, which includes large lots where productive rural land uses will continue to thrive, and smaller residential-sized lots for homesites. Rural character conservation provides a buffer between high density rural areas and areas with lower densities.

Land is capable of supporting low density rural type development with some natural constraints. Development sites should be level to sloping (0 to 20 percent slopes), while larger lots retained may be quite steep, have well drained to poorly drained soils capable of supporting individual septic systems, a high component of wetlands and floodplains, landslide, seismic or erosion hazards.

The area has good resource management potential with dispersed hobby farms, woodlots and larger agricultural use lands present. These low density areas could be placed adjacent to resource lands since their impact would be less than more intensive development. Predominant parcel sizes are greater than 11 acres in size with rural land uses of woodlot or pasture land, and critical areas.

Uses do not require the extension of urban services. The area can be served by community water systems. Rural type County road standards would apply.

Area is a mix of scattered residences, hobby farms, woodlots and larger parcels still used for agricultural or forest production. The area may be used as a transition between lower intensity rural uses and lands with good potential for resource uses. This designation is often utilized where critical areas are present, in order to allow a pattern of development which could provide a greater measure of protection to these lands.

Rural Very Low

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide for very low density rural areas with lots that are large enough for a mixture of rural and resource land uses. Rural low density allows for residential development at a density which is usually compatible with areas with natural limitations such as wetlands or ground with moderate erosion potential.

The land should be capable of supporting low density rural type development with moderate natural constraints. Land should be level to sloping (0 to 25 percent slopes), have well drained to poorly drained soils capable of supporting individual septic systems, may have a high component of wetlands and floodplains, has a moderate erosion potential but should be relatively free of landslide hazards.

The area has good resource management potential with dispersed hobby farms, woodlots and larger agricultural or forest land uses present. These very low density areas could be placed adjacent to resource lands since their impact would be less than more intensive development. Lot size is greater than 19 acres, predominantly pasture land and some woodlots.

This area is too far from the urban area to enable cost-effective provision of urban services. Uses do not require the extension of urban services. The area will not be served by community water systems. Rural type County road standards would apply.

This area has a mix of scattered residences, hobby farms, woodlots and larger parcels still used for agricultural or forest production. The area may be used as a transition between lower intensity rural uses and lands with good potential for resource uses.

Rural

This land use designation recognizes that some rural areas have developed at urban densities prior to implementation of Clallam County’s first zoning ordinance in 1982 and allows infill development at these densities to continue. Expansion of this zone is not permitted.

The land should be capable of supporting urban type densities. Natural constraints should be few. Land should be level (0 to 10 percent slopes) with soils capable of supporting community septic systems.

The area does not support resource land uses due to the density of development. Predominant lot size is less than one acre and this designation is usually found only where subdivisions predate zoning.

This area is too far from the urban area to enable cost effective provision of urban services. Density of development in these areas creates a demand for urban services. The area will be served by community water and paved County roads.

The area is characterized by high density, urban type development located in a rural setting that predates 1990, and qualifies for LAMIRD designation.

Rural Neighborhood Commercial

This land use designation provides for limited commercial services which meet the convenience needs of local residents in rural areas. The designation is limited to those areas already well developed at plan adoption. A high degree of compatibility with rural areas is achieved through the use of small buildings, small overall area devoted to commercial use, and design and layout which screens residential areas from objectionable features.

Since a large percentage of each lot will be covered with structures or paved parking, the land should be capable of supporting intensive development with no natural constraints. Land should be flat (0 to 5 percent slopes), have well drained soils capable of supporting community septic systems, be free of wetlands and flood, landslide, seismic or erosion hazards.

The area has minimal natural resource potential. Development will not impact resource lands. This designation will be found only where existing commercial uses are located along Highway 101. Land use policies recommend a minimum distance of 3 miles between RNC designations as well as limiting their spread along highway frontage, to prevent the appearance of strip commercial development in rural areas.

Urban services are not available. Arterials should pass through or abut this designation. Highway landscaping should be required to blend in with the rural character of the area.

Area should tend to limited commercial uses including restaurants, small-scale convenience grocery stores, gas stations, gift shops and small-scale public uses, and qualifies for LAMIRD designation, with infill development to be similar to the use, scale, size, or intensity as the uses that existed as of July 1, 1990. Screened and well designed mobile home parks or RV parks may be permitted in the portion of the rural commercial areas not directly fronting on the highway. This type of land use designation should not cover more than 20 acres in any one rural neighborhood commercial location as growth of this type of commercial activity should be directed to urban growth areas.

Rural Limited Commercial

The designation allows for continued use of areas which have already developed in limited commercial and light industrial uses. The boundaries of such areas will be strictly defined at the time of plan adoption and will not expand. Within these boundaries current uses may continue to operate as permitted uses and may intensify. Vegetative screening, berming and restrictions on light, noise and outside activities will be used when new uses are established or existing uses intensify their activities. Adjacent rural densities should be low to allow buffering for residential uses.

Since a large percentage of each lot will be covered with structures or paved parking, the land should be capable of supporting intensive development with no natural constraints. Land should be flat (0 to 5 percent slopes), have well drained soils capable of supporting community septic systems, be free of wetlands and flood, landslide, seismic or erosion hazards.

The area has minimal natural resource potential. Development will not impact resource lands. This designation recognizes that some industrial and commercial uses were well established outside the UGAs prior to growth management planning. These uses are allowed to continue at present locations but the area will not be expanded in size.

Urban services are not available. Arterials should pass through or abut this designation. The transportation network should be able to handle high traffic flows.

The commercial/industrial areas established just east of the Morse Creek Canyon at the US 101-O’Brien intersection and just west of Dry Creek Road at US 101 are the only LAMIRD sites within the regional planning area which meet the criteria for this zoning designation. Current uses include a cinema, shooting range, car race track, car parts and repair, building fabrication, storage, plumbing supply and wood product manufacture. New commercial or industrial uses should be similar to the use, scale, size, or intensity as the uses that existed as of July 1, 1990, and tend to be light traffic generators such as wood manufacturing plants, storage facilities, and enclosed light manufacturing facilities. Heavy traffic generators such as restaurants, motels, gas stations, large employment centers or retail outlets shouldn’t be directed to the UGA.

Public Land

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide locations for existing and future sites for school facilities, public offices, cemeteries, rights-of-way, and easements.

The land should be capable of supporting public land uses which in many cases would include large buildings and parking lots.

The area has limited resource management potential and will not impact adjacent resource lands. This designation is found where public agencies own land and will use it for public purpose.

Public buildings should generally be located in urban areas with urban services available within the planning time frame.

This area has a mix of existing public uses or is vacant ground.

Commercial Forestry

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide for large contiguous areas where efficient forest operation can be conducted in support of Clallam County’s forest industry. The designation protects large forestland holdings from encroachment of uses which would threaten efficient forest management practices.

The land should be capable of supporting forest operations. Land should be level to steep, have well drained to poorly drained soils, may have a high component of wetlands and floodplains, have a moderate to high erosion potential and may include landslide hazard areas. Contiguous forested ownerships larger than 80 acres are mapped in this designation with smaller surrounded parcels included.

The area has excellent resource management potential with large tracts of forest ownership. Much of the County’s employment base depends on the retention of these commercial forestlands. Contiguous parcel size under one owner is usually greater than 79 acres in size and associated with larger blocks of timberland.

Uses do not require the extension of urban services. The area will not be served by community water systems. Few roads serve this area although State highways pass through it. Access to private parcels should be largely by private gravel roads.

This area is usually forested and being managed for forest production. Some smaller hobby farms and woodlots are found within commercial forest areas but are usually surrounded on at least 2 sides by commercial forest operations. Due to the small size of these rural inclusions and the predominant surrounding uses, designation of these uses as other than commercial forestry would be spot zoning.

Commercial Forest/Residential Mixed Use

The purpose of this land use designation is to provide a mix of commercial forest operations and residential land uses. Mixed use areas allow for continued forest operation on smaller private ownerships combined with some residential development. The designation allows for a buffer area to be established between intensive forest operations and rural land uses through the use of low base densities or an option to provide a combination of a large forest reserve and clustered housing.

The land should be capable of supporting forest operations. Land should be level to slightly sloping in the development portion of the property (0 to 15 percent slopes) but may be steep in the forest reserve area, have well drained soils in the developable area to poorly drained soils in the forestry reserve, may have a high component of wetlands and floodplains in forested areas, have a low erosion potential in the developable area and a moderate to high erosion potential in the forest reserve area, and may include landslide hazard areas in the forest reserve.

The area has excellent resource management potential. Parcel sizes will range between 5 to 40 acres in size but will generally be 19 acres or larger in size or in contiguous ownerships of this size. Commercial forest use is prevalent in area as indicated by land use and tax status. This designation is especially appropriate for smaller private landowners with less than 700 acres of total ownership as they usually require the ability to sell some residential lots to supplement forestry incomes.

This area is too far from the urban area to enable cost effective provision of urban services. Uses do not require the extension of urban services. The cluster housing area may be served by community water systems. Few roads serve this area although State highways pass through it. Access to private parcels should be largely by private gravel roads.

This area is usually forested and being managed for forest production. Some smaller hobby farms and woodlots are found within commercial forest areas.

Open Space Overlay

The purpose of this land use designation is to identify open space features which are un-buildable due to natural constraints such as wetlands, steep slopes, extreme landslide hazard and extreme erosion hazard which should be preserved to protect habitat or some other desired quality. The Growth Management Act requires such lands to be located within and between urban growth areas and suggests that they be used for recreation, wildlife habitat, trails and connection of critical areas. Designation as open space does not necessarily imply public ownership or the right to public use.

The land should be unbuildable due to natural constraints such as wetlands, steep slopes, extreme landslide hazard and extreme erosion hazard. Slopes will range from level (wetlands) to steep (40 percent), have well drained to poorly drained soils, and may have a substantial component of wetlands, floodplains, seismic and landslide hazards.

The area has resource management potential and may have high value for wildlife habitat, scenic value or watershed protection. Parcel sizes are variable and the area within this designation is best defined by critical area maps and critical wildlife corridor maps.

Open space lands should be located within and between urban growth areas. The steep landslide-prone ravines in the Port Angeles planning area are one example of open space lands. Access points to open space lands are needed but few other public services are needed.

This area is generally vacant ground due to its natural constraints on building.