31.04.230 Rural land – Policies

31.04.230 Rural land – Policies.

(1) Issue 1, Retaining Rural Character in Rural Areas over the Long Term. Problems of rural sprawl commonly associated with portions of eastern Clallam County and other localities in the State are now becoming evident in the Port Angeles planning region. The potential for rural type sprawl exists in the Port Angeles planning region because current rural designations allow rural residential densities of one acre, 2.4 acres, and five acres over large contiguous areas. These allowable densities are the same as rural lands in other parts of Washington where rural type sprawl has caused severe problems. The typical land use pattern resulting in areas developing under these allowable densities more closely resembles a series of large lot subdivisions characterized by uniform lot sizes, large lawns, and limited rural uses, rather than the former mixture of large and small lot sizes, woodlots, pastures and other rural type land uses.

One-acre densities are not rural in character when spread over large areas as this density of development leads to demand for urban levels of service in terms of schools, roads, and emergency services and does not support efficient provision of urban services. While 2.4- and five-acre densities can appear rural in nature when mixed with larger open spaces and rural lot sizes, the repetition of 2.4- and five-acre lots in a gridlike pattern over large areas does not promote retention of rural character. Further development of this type over large areas will only diminish rural character over time, increase the costs for rural service provision and inhibit the function of natural systems as development occurs in this artificial pattern across streams, wetlands, landslide hazard areas, and erosion hazard areas.

(a) Policy 1. Rural areas should provide for a balance between human uses and the natural environment while permanently retaining the features of “rural character” such as clean water, clean air, open spaces, agriculture, forestry, low residential densities, wildlife habitats, quiet, rural lifestyles, outdoor recreation, historic properties and landscapes, and low traffic volumes which attract people to rural environments.

(b) Policy 2. Rural character is best preserved through utilization of low density residential development with lot sizes of 10 acres or larger. Areas with natural limitations and areas designated at 20-acre densities in the 1982 comprehensive plan will be retained in large lot sizes to provide rural diversity, to encourage the continuation of rural land uses that generally require acreage larger than 10 acres and to protect critical areas.

(i) Lands bordering areas designated as commercial forestry were re-evaluated in this Plan to see if they met the criteria for designation as forest land of long-term commercial significance or if they fit into a rural classification. If they met commercial forest criteria they were classified in the most appropriate designation of forest land of long-term commercial significance. When rural designations were found to be appropriate, areas were redesignated in a rural category that reflected their current density or those of the surrounding area (i.e., areas zoned at 20-acre densities which are not currently managed as commercial forestland were redesignated for rural very low density (one unit per 20 acres) to provide buffers between commercial forest lands and higher density rural development and to provide diversity of lot sizes in rural areas which promotes their use for woodlots as well as the retention of rural character.).

(ii) Rural areas remote from County roads or with natural limitations (i.e., erosion hazard, landslide hazard, wetlands, streams) or those rural lands that could be used to buffer commercial forest lands should be retained at one home per 20 acres rural densities to protect critical areas and foster diversity of parcel sizes in the rural areas.

(c) Policy 3. In many rural areas where densities greater than one home per 10 acres have been utilized in previous plans, a rural character conservation designation will be utilized to provide a pattern of development which preserves a majority of these rural lands in the larger lot sizes which contribute to rural character, maintenance of rural quality of life, keeps rural lands in productive agricultural or forest uses and allows current densities to be utilized.

(i) Rural character conservation designations and implementing zoning will conserve rural character and rural quality of life by allowing development flexibility in creating either large rural lot sizes (usually larger than 10 acres); or alternatively, a combination of smaller residential lot sizes intermixed with a large remainder residential lot or open space which will not be further subdivided. The large remainder residential lot or open space could be utilized for the mutual benefit of the adjacent property owners as part of their amenity package, could be utilized as a woodlot or for agriculture by the original owner, or could be sold to others who would utilize it for similar purposes. The large remainder residential lot or open space will not be further subdivided as its development rights have been utilized in adjacent small lot development and such restriction shall be permanently recorded on the plat maps at time of subdivision. A density bonus of one unit per 40 acres would encourage the use of this option on larger lots. Lands designated as rural character conservation should be located outside of lands designated as commercial forestry or rural very low and will generally be located in areas with a preponderance of lot sizes or contiguous ownerships larger than 10 acres. Some lots smaller than 10 acres may be found within rural character conservation designations.

(ii) Design guidelines for development in rural character conservation designations will be developed to ensure that the development has a rural appearance and to reduce the visual impact on adjacent properties. These guidelines should include, but are not limited to, encouraging residential access to permanently retained rural open spaces, minimizing large housing clusters to avoid the appearance of a urban housing development, minimizing the amount of access roads, and land management plans for open spaces.

(iii) The rural character conservation designation will allow development at densities of one home per 4.8 acres (RCC5) or one home per 2.4 acres (RCC3) if the provisions of subsections (2)(c)(iv) and (2)(c)(vi) of this section are met. These densities usually recognize densities that were available in the 1982 Comprehensive Plan except in the case of areas with one-acre densities which will see a reduction in density available for use on site to one home per 2.4 acres. Such areas may be allocated development rights for any losses in density. These density rights can be transferred for use within identified portions of the urban growth area. Other rural character conservation designations which show a reduction in density from the 1982 plan are based on desire of area residents for lesser densities, topography, high percentages of critical areas, stream headwater locations, and lack of water availability in some areas.

(iv) The rural character conservation designation and its implementing zoning districts essentially describe a type of planned unit development (PUD) that retains rural character through retention of large rural lot sizes (typically larger than 10 acres). Lot size flexibility is built into the rural character conservation development concept through the use of a sliding scale which determines the percentage of the development which can be developed in smaller residential lot sizes and the percentage of the site which must remain in an undivided rural lot size or open space as follows:

•Lots between 11 acres and 19 acres in size will utilize all but one of the density credits available to the site in smaller residential lot sizes (maximum size of one acre) with the one remainder housing credit utilized by the larger remainder lot.

•Lots between 19.1 and 60 acres in size would allow development of up to 30 percent of the site in small lots, with 70 percent of the site in the large remainder lot.

•Lots between 60.1 acres and 100 acres would allow development of 40 percent of the site in smaller lots, with 60 percent in the large remainder lot.

•Lots larger than 100 acres would allow development of up to 45 percent of the site, with 55 percent of the site in the large remainder lot or open space.

(v) The rural character conservation designation and implementing zoning district should allow creation of residential lots 10 acres or larger if the option in subsection (2)(c)(iv) of this section is not utilized or desired. Lots 10 acres or larger should only be able to further subdivide if all the newly created lots will be 10 acres or larger or meet the lot size provisions outlined in subsection (2)(c)(iv) of this section.

(vi) Lots between 9.6 acres and 11 acres in size (contiguous ownership at the time of adoption of the interim zoning ordinance will be utilized to determine the 11-acre threshold) located within rural character conservation designation should be allowed to subdivide to the underlying density of the zoning district (i.e., one unit per five acres in RCC5 or one unit per 2.4 acres in RCC3) in a large lot/small lot pattern (maximum size of small lot residential parcel is 1.5 acres).

(d) Policy 4. In rural areas characterized by a variety of development patterns, a rural neighborhood conservation designation will be utilized 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 or by the varying character of the many existing neighborhoods found within this zoning district.

(i) 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, agricultural land, and other rural open space.

(ii) Infill at a density consistent with the substantial residential development already existing in certain neighborhoods 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. For the purpose of this provision, a “neighborhood” is the area that extends 500 feet beyond the subject parcel’s boundaries, and “substantially developed” means that at least 70 percent of all parcels within that neighborhood contain residential development at the time of the permit application. Substantially developed neighborhoods will already contain mature infrastructure and services.

(iii) Public water systems and county road standards will apply to developments under either of the optional overlay or the cluster innovative zoning techniques.

(e) Policy 5. In all rural residential designations except rural neighborhood conservation and rural character conservation, a maximum residential density should be set for each Comprehensive Plan designation and should be utilized in place of minimum lot size to control densities in order to create greater diversity of lot sizes in rural areas which contributes to retention of rural character.

(i) When land is subdivided, property deeds and plat maps should be recorded showing the number of development rights which have been utilized and the number which remain for each parcel created.

(ii) The presence of small lots in a rural area created utilizing a maximum density system should not be used as a justification for increased densities.

(f) Policy 6. Current densities allowed in the Port Angeles planning region would meet the growth needs of the region far beyond those identified for the next 20-year planning period. Rural densities should not be increased above current rural density levels during this planning time frame (1995 – 2014) in order to preserve rural character and to limit demand for public services and facilities in rural areas. The conversion of rural areas into higher density rural designations or zoning districts will be discouraged.

(i) Continued development at densities of one home per acre or less without offsetting provision of open space is not a preferred rural development pattern and will be discouraged. Areas currently zoned for one acre lots which have not developed at these densities over large areas should utilize a rural character conservation development approach to allow rural character to be preserved through open space retention. One acre lot sizes will be allowed in the rural area in subdivisions currently developed at this density and in areas where these lot sizes are already existent to the extent that they qualify for and have been designated as LAMIRDs. Existing, legal, nonconforming lots will be buildable.

(ii) Continued development at densities of 2.4 and five acres per home without offsetting provision of open space is not a preferred rural development pattern and will be discouraged in the Port Angeles planning region. Areas currently zoned for 2.4- and five-acre lots which have not extensively developed at this density should utilize a rural neighborhood conservation or rural character conservation development approach to allow rural character to be preserved through retention of permanently protected pasture land and woodlots. Development densities of 2.4 and five acres per home will be allowed in rural areas where occupied lots in these lot sizes are already existent over large areas (greater than 50 acres). Existing, legal, nonconforming lots will be buildable under any change in zoning.

(g) Policy 7. Conversion of forest lands of long-term commercial significance located outside of urban growth areas into rural land uses other than master planned resorts will be prohibited in order to retain the base of industrial forest lands upon which the County’s largest industry is dependent. These lands provide important functions relating to retaining local employment, furthering economic development, retaining rural character, preservation of water quality, ensuring water quantity, protecting habitat and provide scenic vistas from rural lands and highways.

(3) Issue 2, Urban Residential Density Development in Rural Areas. Densities exceeding one home per acre when allowed to spread over large areas are identified in the Clallam County County-Wide Planning Policies as urban in nature. Comprehensive Plan goals and policies must limit new development at urban densities in rural areas.

Industrial land uses which contain few objectionable characteristics and commercial land uses exceeding those needed by rural neighborhoods or for tourists should also be located in urban growth areas. These types of intensive developments are better suited for development in the designated urban growth area of Port Angeles. Landslide hazard areas are also not appropriate for urban type development.

(a) Policy 8. Limit urban residential lot development outside of urban growth areas and within critical areas.

(i) Areas characterized as of July 1, 1990, by a predominately built environment at densities equal to or exceeding one home per acre will be designated as LAMIRDs, and infill development will be allowed at such density within the logical outer boundary set in the Comprehensive Plan. Such LAMIRDs will not be expanded beyond these initial limits in order to ensure that urban density development occurs within and not outside of urban growth areas.

(ii) Lots of one acre or less may only be created through an approved rural neighborhood conservation, rural character conservation development plan, or as infill lots within designated LAMIRDs.

(iii) Landslide hazard areas should be designated for very low rural residential, open space or commercial forestry uses.

(b) Policy 9. Master planned resorts would be appropriate in rural areas with waterfront amenities. Commercial forest/residential mixed use or commercial forest areas may be appropriate locations for master planned resorts if rural sites are unavailable.

(c) Policy 10. Extension or existence of public water service in designated rural areas or resource lands shall not result in or be justification for higher densities than that anticipated by the regional land use plan. Water purveyor plans must demonstrate that new facilities are consistent with the comprehensive plan and won’t require increased densities to finance planned facilities.

(5) Issue 3, Rural Commercial Activities. Tourist and neighborhood commercial development areas such as Shadow Mountain Store and RV at Lake Sutherland, Laird’s Corner, Granny’s on US 101, and Indian Creek on US 101 at the Elwha River are examples of nonresidential uses found in the rural areas which qualify for LAMIRD designation (Lake Sutherland LAMIRD, Laird’s Corner LAMIRD, Granny’s Cafe LAMIRD, and Indian Creek LAMIRD), and as such will be carefully controlled in order to preserve rural character. While this type of development provides needed services to tourists and rural residents alike, it should be maintained within a set size limit or length along the highway and should occur only at existing locations to promote compact rural commercial service centers and to direct most commercial growth to urban growth areas. Rural limited commercial designations have been established to deal with the level of commercial and industrial development found east of Morse Creek canyon, at the US 101-O’Brien intersection, and west of Dry Creek Road, and these areas are designated as LAMIRDs (Deer Park LAMIRD, O’Brien LAMIRD, and Laird’s Corner LAMIRD (east portion), respectively). The level of commercial and industrial found within rural limited commercial designations should be directed to UGAs, but areas designated as LAMIRDs may contain commercial or industrial uses of such type, scale, size, or intensity as already existed as of July 1, 1990. The visual impact of nonresidential land uses in rural areas should be reduced through the use of high quality landscaping and design guidelines.

(a) Policy 11. Development of existing commercial and industrial designated lands in the Deer Park LAMIRD and O’Brien LAMIRD should be allowed subject to the following standards:

(i) Allowable land uses should be limited to uses of such type, scale, size, or intensity as already existed as of July 1, 1990, such as:

•Tourist facilities such as snack bars, gift shops, antique stores and gas stations;

•Services for the local neighborhood such as professional offices, barbers, etc.;

•Small-scale retail serving the local neighborhood such as convenience grocery, etc.;

•Light manufacturing and storage uses such as cabinet making, boat building, fully screened mini-storage.

(ii) Standards should be set for the development of this property, including:

•Limiting the percentage of impervious surface to maintain an “open” atmosphere;

•Requiring setbacks, buffers and screening to separate commercial and industrial land uses from adjacent residential zones;

•Requiring highway and building landscaping that meets high standards for protection of rural character including complete screening of visually jarring uses such as mini-storage and outdoor RV storage, etc.;

•Limiting the size of any one building to avoid large-scale facilities;

•Development of a frontage road which feeds commercial traffic onto O’Brien Road.

(iii) Expansion of this commercial/industrial area outside of existing boundaries shall not be permitted under any circumstances.

(iv) Development outside UGAs must not lead to expansion of urban services or facilities such as sewer, water or improved transportation systems.

(b) Policy 12. Development of existing rural neighborhood commercial designations within the Lake Sutherland LAMIRD, Laird’s Corner LAMIRD, Granny’s Cafe LAMIRD, and Indian Creek LAMIRD should be allowed within their respective logical outer boundaries, and shall be subject to the following standards:

(i) Allowable land uses should be limited to uses of such type, scale, size, or intensity as already existed as of July 1, 1990, including:

•Tourist facilities like snack bars, gift shops, antique stores and gas stations, RV parks;

•Services for the local neighborhood such as churches, barbers, etc.;

•Small-scale retail serving the local neighborhood such as convenience grocery, etc.

(ii) Standards should be set for the development of the property, including:

•Limiting the percentage of impervious surface to maintain an “open” atmosphere;

•Requiring setbacks, buffers and screening to separate commercial and industrial land uses from adjacent residential zones;

•Requiring high standards of highway and building landscaping to protect rural character;

•Limiting the size of any one building to under 10,000 square feet to avoid large-scale facilities in rural areas.

(c) Policy 13. Commercial uses allowed in rural residential designations should be limited to those which would not impact rural character. Standards shall be set for recreational uses in rural areas, including recreational vehicle parks and commercial outdoor oriented activities. The following revisions should be made to the allowed uses, conditional uses and standards in rural zones:

(i) Commercial outdoor oriented recreational use in rural residential designations shall be limited to boat launching facilities, golf courses, campgrounds and similar uses carried on outside of buildings in order to direct intensive commercial uses such as motels, hotels, restaurants and variety stores to locate in appropriate areas including urban growth areas or in rural commercial designations.

(ii) Professional offices, exceeding the scope of home enterprises, should locate in appropriate areas including urban growth areas, tourist commercial designations, neighborhood commercial designations and limited commercial designations.

(iii) Research facilities that require rural locations due to the type of research conducted may be appropriately located in rural areas but those facilities whose research does not dictate a rural location should locate in appropriate areas including urban growth areas or in rural commercial limited designations.

(iv) Communication broadcast stations, mini-storage and boat storage should locate in appropriate areas including urban growth areas (all three uses), tourist commercial (boat storage) and rural limited commercial (all three uses) designations. Mini-storage, boat storage, and wrecking yards shall not locate in rural residential designations along State highways as this use would destroy rural character and scenic vistas.

(v) Standards for buffering and landscaping to ensure compatibility with surrounding rural land uses shall be accomplished.

(vi) Standards for noise, traffic, light and glare, and other nuisance characteristics shall be implemented.

(vii) Rural commercial and recreational commercial uses in rural areas shall be located on a minimum parcel size of five acres.

(d) Policy 14. Home-based businesses should be encouraged when the use is not intrusive to the surrounding residential character of the neighborhood.

(i) Home-based business that have little, if any, outward characteristics of a business should be allowed in all areas.

(ii) 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.

(e) Policy 15. Industrial lands outside the urban growth area have been identified in the Laird’s Corner LAMIRD (east part). This industrial land has a land use designation of rural limited commercial which recognizes areas which have extensively developed in commercial and industrial land use outside urban growth areas. Land use on this property should remain similar to the use, scale, size, or intensity as the uses that existed as of July 1, 1990. The following standards shall be implemented in rural limited commercial designations:

(i) Earthen berms, natural landscaping, trees should be utilized in a minimum buffer area of 25 feet along the exterior property boundaries to buffer these uses from adjacent rural residential land uses.

(ii) Noise, lights and odors shall be controlled to the extent which is economically feasible for the type of operation on the site.

(iii) Each industrial use shall control the water quality impacts of its operation to the maximum extent possible.

(7) Issue 4, Retaining Scenic Corridors along State Highways. US 101 and SR 112 are the major travel routes through the Port Angeles region. Retention of the scenic values and rural feeling of this travel corridor is important to both residents and tourists alike as they travel to communities for goods and services and to popular recreation destinations. Development along the corridor should be controlled to protect rural character and scenic vistas.

(a) Policy 16. In order to preserve scenic rural corridors, the preferred land uses along US 101 and SR 112 should include low density residential interspersed with neighborhood/tourist commercial at existing locations along the roadway. Further development of commercial uses outside of these existing locations would not be permitted in order to direct a majority of commercial and industrial development to urban growth areas. A minimum distance of two and one-half to three miles should be maintained between tourist commercial land uses along State highways in order to prevent sprawl development of strip commercial corridors.

(i) Residential densities within a quarter mile of the State highways outside the urban growth area should be no greater than one home per five acres or develop using a rural character conservation approach. Residential setbacks from the highway should be large in order to preserve rural character, minimize the effects of road noise on residences, to prevent commercial conversion pressures and to improve or maintain the visual appearance of these important scenic corridors. Where large residential setbacks are not possible or would conflict with critical area protection, other screening options should be encouraged such as retention of trees and landscaping.

(b) Policy 17. In order to preserve scenic rural corridors, Clallam County should work with the DNR and other large forest land owners to make corridors along State highways a showcase for forestry practices such as commercial thinning, shelter wood cuts and other silvicultural practices. See also Goals and Policies under this subsection.

(c) Policy 18. Clallam County shall continue to prohibit construction of new billboards along scenic highways and shall continue County efforts to remove existing billboards located along designated scenic highways.

(8) Issue 5, Encourage Growth into Urban Growth Areas. Steady growth is predicted for the Port Angeles planning region. This area experienced an annual growth rate of 0.44 percent between 1980 and 1990. Much of the growth within these areas occurred outside of the community of Port Angeles. This trend has the long-term potential of diminishing “rural character” of the region. Reversing this trend requires providing incentives to encourage and attract development in urban areas where growth can be serviced more efficiently.

(9) Issue 6, Agricultural Practices in the Rural Watershed. A growing number of small parcels in rural communities are used as noncommercial part-time farms. Often horses or other livestock are kept primarily for recreational purposes. The cumulative impacts of these small farms on water quality may be greater than those of well-managed, large-scale commercial operations. The local conservation district plays a key role in working with individual farmers on water quality issues.

(a) Policy 19. Collect and maintain farm inventory data and implement source controls.

Clallam Conservation District

(A) Determine farms with implemented conservation plans, plans in progress, out-of-date plans, and no plans at all. Review and update farm surveys, and prioritize farms for potential water quality impacts.

(B) Assign high priority to small farms with uncontrolled livestock access to streams or ditches, confined animals and associated potential waste management problems, high animal densities, or potential to impact groundwater through improper fertilizer or pesticide and irrigation water management.

(A) Offer technical, financial, and construction assistance for prevention and correction of potential water quality problems. Market these programs through the mass media and through individual consultation with operators of high priority farms.

(B) Encourage all farms to develop, update and implement conservation plans to improve water quality. A schedule and timeline for ongoing implementation of conservation plans on both small and commercial farms is an integral component of conservation plans.

(D) Utilize education and incentives to prevent and correct agricultural water quality problems.

(E) Urge the USDA Consolidated Farm Services Agency to modify funding eligibility to include horse farms, or any animal-keeping operation which is affecting water quality.

(A) Assist farm operators with conservation plan development and implementation according to the compliance memorandum of understanding (Level III) between Clallam Conservation District, Conservation Commission, and Department of Ecology.

(B) Evaluate the effectiveness, revise as needed, and continue to use, the County-Conservation District water quality complaint referral memorandum of understanding for the Port Angeles watershed.

(C) Refer water quality violations to Department of Ecology for enforcement. Direct citizen water quality complaints to Ecology.

(a) Policy 20. Ensure that new and existing on-site sewage disposal systems are located, designed, installed, operated, inspected, and maintained to prevent the discharge of pollutants to surface and ground waters.

Clallam County, PUD #1 of Clallam County

(b) Policy 21. As part of an overall source control program related to on-site sewage disposal, determine where soil or site conditions do not provide an acceptable level of treatment; sensitive resources are present; and/or high repair rates for existing systems are found; and undertake a program of discovery, remediation, maintenance and/or enforcement as described in the actions below. In the future, when any site or area has potential water quality problems due to suspected malfunction of an existing on-site sewage system, County policies and procedures should be in place for identifying such malfunctions and ensuring compliance with the on-site sewage regulations (Chapter 276-272 WAC).

Clallam County, PUD #1 of Clallam County

(A) In conjunction with proposed surface and ground water monitoring programs undertake ongoing water quality sampling in areas of concern. Where sampling indicates probable contamination due to on-site sewage disposal systems, conduct targeted sanitary surveys. Sanitary surveys should also inspect for the hidden failure to treat effluent. Where sanitary survey indicates likelihood of failure, conduct individual dye testing.

(B) Establish a feasible County procedure for determining sewage disposal integrity for suspect systems or possible failures; request on-site system permit from landowner, or proof of maintenance performed. If permit or other proof is unavailable, request permission to inspect the system. If refused, pursue inspection through legal search and inspection channels.

(C) At a minimum, systems should be inspected when the ownership of a property is changed, and corrective action taken prior to transfer of ownership. Educate lenders and appraisers about the need for sanitary surveys to ensure adequate function and capacity of on-site sewage disposal systems. Urge sanitary survey if inspection and/or maintenance has not been performed within the previous five years. Record of survey results should be transmitted to the County Environmental Health Division.

(D) Conduct an individual education, maintenance and inspection project involving targeted landowner groups. Make inspection kits available and provide assistance with system inspection.

(A) Continue to use State revolving funds and other sources to maintain, evaluate, and expand the water quality cleanup fund. This program is administered by Clallam County to provide low- or no-interest loans for on-site sewage disposal system repair or replacement. Loans are offered based upon financial need and potential threat to water quality.

(B) Replace failing conventional systems with alternative systems where appropriate. If replaced with a conventional system, ensure the resident is educated on proper use and maintenance of the system to avoid subsequent malfunctions.

(C) Implement regional/neighborhood solutions such as community drainfields in areas with high failure rates, rather than repeated, numerous individual system replacements.

(A) Encourage landowners to establish maintenance contracts for individual and community on-site systems. Provide incentives such as lower permit fees for those who have secured maintenance agreements.

(B) Through utility bill or other mailings, periodically remind property owners about the need for inspection, maintenance, and proper operation of their sewage disposal systems.

(C) Maintain a plat map-level visual record of installations and repairs to provide a useful tool for identifying areas historically at risk for failure.

(A) Direct educational efforts at designers, installers, pumpers, permitters, homeowners and renters.

Clallam County, WSU-Cooperative Extension

(B) Educate the public about proper management of waste going into on-site sewage disposal systems and methods of prolonging system usefulness, avoiding frequent pumping, and associated expenses.

(C) Use press releases, public notices, and mailings to remind the public that unapproved septic system additives are banned in this State.

(D) Encourage the use of best conventional technology which goes beyond the minimum code requirements for on-site sewage disposal system design and construction. This could include sand-lined trenches or longer drainfields, or building for greater capacity.

(E) Install low-volume plumbing fixtures and employ water conservation measures to reduce loading to on-site systems.

(F) Provide information and opportunities for home composting, to reduce the use of garbage disposals, which can contribute significantly to pollutant and volume loading on systems.

(G) Provide on-site sewage disposal system brochures and stickers for owners of all on-site systems in the watershed. The self-sticking seal, placed on the electrical box or other visible location, has space to record the location of the drainfield and date of last septic pumping.

(H) Assist on-site sewage disposal system pumpers and real estate representatives to promote water quality and distribute system maintenance stickers and information.

(c) Policy 22. Site development, including roads, highways, and bridges, should protect the natural integrity of water bodies and natural drainage systems.

Clallam County

(i) Avoid conversion, to the extent practical, of areas that are susceptible to erosion and sediment loss;

(ii) Preserve areas that provide important water quality benefits and/or are necessary to maintain riparian and aquatic habitat;

(iii) Plan, design, and develop sites to limit impervious areas;

(iv) Limit land disturbance activities such as clearing and grading, and cut and fill;

(v) Limit disturbance of natural drainage features and vegetation; and

(vi) Guidance on appropriate pollution prevention practices should be incorporated into site development and use.

(d) Policy 23. Develop and adopt a clearing and grading ordinance which requires drainage and erosion control for land preparation prior to permitting for development, and which implements the Clallam County Critical Areas Ordinance.

Clallam County

(e) Policy 24. Minimize the application of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that result from new land development. Preserve and protect existing natural vegetation to the extent practical to help maintain predevelopment runoff volumes. Landscapes that demand significant amounts of chemical treatment should be avoided.

Clallam County

(f) Policy 25. Manage open space to retain the natural characteristics of land cover and soil, in order to maintain soil porosity and limit runoff.

Clallam County

(g) Policy 26. Attach points for good stewardship to open space taxation programs, to recognize the implementation of best management practices, corridor preservation, and other public benefits as qualification for open space tax status.

Clallam County

(h) Policy 27. Establish greenways through rural stream corridors. Provide interpretive materials describing upstream-downstream, rural-urban stream relationships, and healthy stream characteristics and management practices.

Clallam County

(i) Policy 28. New development shall utilize existing community water systems where available and feasible, rather than establishing new community water systems in areas already served by existing systems.

Clallam County, PUD #1 of Clallam County

(j) Policy 29. Clallam County should work with Department of Ecology to assume some local responsibility for water rights analysis and appropriation to reduce disincentives resulting from State management, and to improve accountability and oversight for local small water systems. Responsibilities delegated to Clallam County should be accompanied by funding for those duties.

Clallam County, WA Department of Ecology

(k) Policy 30. Assist with the formation of an association of community water systems to create a forum for management concerns, strategies, successes and problems. Develop annual meetings to provide training and to address wellhead protection.

Clallam County, PUD #1 of Clallam County

(l) Policy 31. Encourage community well owners to develop wellhead protection programs. Assist community water system owners and operators with development and implementation of wellhead protection programs and emergency intervention plans. Provide operators and owners with information and assistance in contaminant source inventories. Provide support for water quality and quantity protection. Provide guidance on land use decisions, and help with maintaining public involvement in decision-making.

Clallam County

(i) Educate well owners regarding prevention of aquifer contamination via well casings, caps, and other points of entry. Provide well owners with information about proper well construction, the advantage of drilling to deeper aquifers, and homeowner liability for proper well construction.

Clallam County