31.05.170 Land use element | Clallam County Code

31.05.170 Land use element.

(a) Urban Growth. Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner.

(b) Reduce Sprawl. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low density development.

(c) Natural Resource Industries. Maintain and enhance natural resource-based industries, including productive timber, agricultural, and fisheries industries. Encourage the conservation of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands.

(d) Open Space and Recreation. Encourage the retention of open space and development of recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks. Expand and enhance multi-use trail opportunities. Using forest service roads and easements for trails through private timber companies will maximize the use of land for recreation and timber harvest.

(e) Environment. Protect the environment and enhance the State’s high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water.

(f) Property Rights. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made.

(2) Existing Conditions and Purpose. The 1990 Census recorded 5,473 people living in the Straits regional planning area. Of this total, 2,507 live in the eastern half of the Straits Region and 2,966 people live in the western half of the Straits Region. Of the 2,966 people in the west end, approximately 650 live in Clallam Bay/Sekiu and 916 live in the Neah Bay area.

Steady growth is predicted for the Clallam Bay/Sekiu/Neah Bay and Crescent/Joyce areas. These areas experienced an annual growth rate of 0.93 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, between 1980 and 1990. Population projections for the western portion of the Straits regional planning area show an increase of 650 people by the year 2010. Of this total increase, approximately 266 people are expected to locate within the Clallam Bay/Sekiu urban growth area. The urban growth projection has factored in the recent expansion in staffing for the Clallam Bay Correction Center and planned for an additional expansion in the locally based staffing for this facility within the 1994-2010 planning time frame. An additional 1,350 people are expected to locate in the Crescent/Joyce area in the next 20 years.

The Straits Planning Region is characterized by a preponderance of commercial forest lands interspersed by small urban communities and rural lands. The communities of Clallam Bay, Sekiu, Joyce and Neah Bay provide the major urban services for the region. Small-scale commercial and tourist resort areas are located along and near SR 112. The majority of rural development is located within the eastern portion of the planning area. Rural areas on the west end of the area are located near Clallam Bay/Sekiu and isolated locations west of Clallam Bay on State Route 112 and the Hoko-Ozette Road. Tables 1 and 2 summarize the proposed land use acreages in each designation and the densities which would occur at full development of these areas.

Table 1. Acres in Each Western Straits Comprehensive Plan Designation and Density at Build-out
Land Use Designation	Acres	Density at Build-out
Urban Center	372 acres – 60 acres of critical areas = 312 acres	1,248 homes/2,995 people
Urban Residential	659 acres – 178 acres of critical areas = 481 acres	1,924 homes/4,618 people
Rural Suburban Community	219	438 homes/1,051 people
Rural Neighborhood Conservation	602	120 homes/289 people
Rural Low	2,036	407 homes/977 people
Rural Very Low	1,413	71 homes/170 people
Rural Neighborhood Commercial	68
Industrial	275
Commercial Forest	192,637
Public (County and State Parks)	582

Table 2. Acres in Each Eastern Straits Comprehensive Plan Designation and Density at Build-out
Land Use Designation	Acres	Density at Build-out
Urban Center	247	800 homes/1,920 people
Urban Residential	90	360 homes/864 people
Rural Neighborhood Conservation	508	101 homes/243 people
Rural Low	2,773	555 homes/1,332 people
Rural Very Low	233	12 homes/28 people
Rural Low/Mixed	6,923	2,885 homes/6,924 people
Rural Character Conservation (5)	424	85 homes/203 people
Commercial Forest/Mixed Use (5)	1,463	293 homes/703 people
Commercial Forest Mixed Use (20)	610	30 homes/72 people
Commercial Forest	52,371
Rural Neighborhood Commercial	302	604 homes/1,450 people
Public (County and State Parks)	213

Much of the growth within these areas occurred outside of the communities of Clallam Bay/Sekiu and Joyce. This trend has the long-term potential of diminishing the “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.

The land use element of the Straits Regional Plan builds upon the existing County-wide Comprehensive Plan. The County-Wide Comprehensive Plan identifies three general land use patterns for the planning area: urban, rural and commercial forest lands. The following sections identify a vision for each of these three general types of land use which details the progress and appearance that the Community Councils would like to see in the community by the year 2010. Goals and policies aimed at achieving the vision statement form the body of the Straits Regional Comprehensive Plan and will guide land use decisions made in this area over the next 20 years.