(1) Growth Management Goal. Encourage economic development throughout the State that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens of this State, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, and encourage growth in areas experiencing insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the State’s natural resources, public services, and public facilities.

(2) The Vision for Economic Development. The Comprehensive Plan has enhanced economic diversity while protecting the quality of the environment and private property rights. The comprehensive plan serves as a foundation for land use regulation that is simple, minimally intrusive and inexpensive to apply. The comprehensive plan has facilitated economic development by focusing local strategies on solutions to local problems. Efforts have also been directed towards improving the economy in economically distressed areas of the County.

The Comprehensive Plan for the Straits Region focused on redevelopment of the communities of Clallam Bay and Sekiu into high-quality resort towns. Combining grant funding with local monies has led to extensive improvements in motel facilities, recreational facilities, street side landscaping, pedestrian amenities and building facade improvements. Many community activities and organized events occur throughout the year attracting groups seeking to recreate in an area of unsurpassed natural beauty. The existence of established trail systems on local timberlands provides a location for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians to hold one- to two-day events, providing substantial income to local businesses.

Environmental restoration efforts have been extensive over the last 15 years and the local fishery industry has experienced a rebound in recent years. Aquaculture research and implementation projects have created new jobs from the expansion of this industry in the west end of the County. Commercial forestry operations continue to employ many residents of the West End. The Clallam Bay Corrections Center has been expanded providing additional jobs and prison industries also contribute to the local economy.

The Joyce area has continued to experience growth as residents working in Port Angeles are attracted to the high quality rural environment. The Joyce urban growth area has seen additional development of low cost housing and recreational type developments. Joyce has retained its rural historic town appearance. High quality landscaping and building design have improved the aesthetics of the urban area. A park in the center of town induces many tourists to stop and enjoy the shopping in this rural community. A master planned resort has been developed north of Joyce in the Crescent Beach area and resort facilities at Whiskey Creek and the Lyre River have been expanded. The County Park at Salt Creek now includes portions of Crescent Beach. The trail system of the park has been expanded and signed to include trails to Striped Peak and connections south to Joyce and its trail system for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. The trail systems in the Joyce area include the Olympic Discovery Trail “Adventure Route” segment that connects to the Lyre River and Spruce Mountain Railroad grade segments that have also been incorporated into the Olympic Discovery Trail route.