31.05.210 Clallam Bay/Sekiu urban growth area policies and goals.
(1) Physical Boundary Considerations. [Goal No. 1] The Clallam Bay-Sekiu Urban Growth Area (UGA) should be the major provider of urban services for the western portion of the Straits Planning Region. The Interim Urban Growth Boundary adopted by the Clallam County Board of County Commissioners in October, 1993 should remain in place except for the following changes: (i) include the mobile home subdivision south of Snob Hill on Highway 112, and (ii) exclude landslide hazard areas on the bluffs north of Sekiu.
(2) Urban Growth Area Land Uses. [Goal No. 2] Residential, commercial and industrial land uses should be designated within the Clallam Bay-Sekiu urban growth area as a desirable means of preventing incompatible adjacent land uses. All new residential development within the urban growth area should be at urban densities or have the capability of being converted to urban densities.
(a) Designate areas currently characterized by a mix of commercial, residential, and other uses as urban center lands. These areas should include the Clallam Bay, Sekiu, and Middle Point business districts.
(b) Urban center lands should allow a mix of residential, commercial, and light industrial land uses that are compatible with the small town character of Clallam Bay-Sekiu.
(c) Lands adjacent to the Clallam Bay, Sekiu, and Middle Point business districts should be designated as urban residential lands.
(d) High density, multifamily development and mobile home parks should be located within the Clallam Bay/Sekiu urban growth area. Multifamily and mobile home park developments should provide landscaping/buffering.
(e) The residential parcel size for newly created lots within the urban growth area shall be either less than 22,000 square feet or larger than 10 acres in order to encourage urban densities and the possibility of urban density redevelopment within the urban growth area.
(f) Urban growth area lands adjacent to the Clallam Bay Corrections Center should be designated for industrial land use.
(g) That portion of the Clallam River flowing through the urban growth area should have an urban shoreline designation to allow reasonable setbacks to be established in the urban area bordering the river.
(h) Minimum lot sizes in the Clallam Bay/Sekiu urban growth area shall be: 7,000 square feet for single-family dwellings; 9,000 square feet for two-family structures; 14,000 square feet for three-family structures; 18,000 square feet for four-family structures; 19,500 square feet for five or more dwelling units, plus 1,000 square feet for each dwelling unit which exceeds five units; and 5,000 square feet for RV park lot units.
(3) Joint Planning with the Clallam Bay-Sekiu Community Council.
(a) [Goal No. 3] The compact commercial centers of Clallam Bay and Sekiu provide many desirable features which should be retained and improved upon through this planning period (1994 – 2014). These features include commercial cores with a walkable radius for visitors and residents, a business core with complementary uses in close association, and the flexibility of a mix of residential, commercial and light industrial in the core area.
(i) Clallam County should provide support to the Clallam Bay and Sekiu Community Council in developing a plan for a commercial core improvement district. The plan should encourage development of aesthetically pleasing downtown commercial core areas in each community to attract local residents, tourists and new business development. Components of the plan should include streetscape improvements, landscaping for existing businesses, business facade improvements, waterfront view corridors, water accessibility through boardwalk and trails, pedestrian access, re-development of the County park, building design guidelines and landscaping standards for new businesses. A series of conceptual drawings (Chris Nolan, 1993) illustrate many of the landscaping and design features which will be considered in the formulation of guidelines for the commercial core improvement district.
(ii) Clallam County should work together with the Clallam Bay and Sekiu Community Council to obtain funding through a variety of sources including grants and prison impact fees to finance formal implementation of the commercial core improvement district plan and to finance needed community facilities (e.g., recreation facilities, visitor information center).
(iii) The Clallam Bay and Sekiu Community Council should provide local review and recommendations for conformance of new business development with the commercial core improvement district plan to the Board of Clallam County Commissioners prior to the issuance of commercial or industrial building permits.
(b) Goal 4. Redesign the existing County Park in Clallam Bay to serve as a village green where community events can take place with dramatic views of Clallam Bay from the business district. Improvements should provide green spaces that front on the highway and encourage travelers to stop and enjoy the community. Bicycle trails should be provided and signed for access to local businesses and services. Shared parking agreements with adjacent businesses may be needed to allow portions of the existing lot to be converted to green spaces fronting on the highway.
(i) Clallam County should work together with the Clallam Bay and Sekiu Community Council to obtain funding through a variety of sources including grants and prison impact fees to finance redevelopment of the park. Proposed improvements should be subject to local review and recommendations of the Clallam Bay and Sekiu Community Council and should be coordinated with the commercial core improvement district plan.
(ii) Directional signing and visibility of the County Park should be improved to attract visitors. Informational kiosks should be constructed to explain the economic, forest management and natural history of the Clallam Bay and Sekiu areas and provide visitor information on local attractions, lodging, services, and events.
(4) Public Facility Considerations.
(a) [Goal No. 5] All new development in the Clallam Bay and Sekiu urban growth area shall be required to hook up to PUD or other public water systems and to the Clallam Bay and Sekiu sewage systems.
(b) [Goal No. 6] Urban services to be provided within the Clallam Bay and Sekiu urban growth area should include sewer systems, solid waste disposal systems, water systems, urban roads and pedestrian facilities, transit systems, stormwater systems, police and fire and emergency services systems, electrical and communication systems, school and health care facilities, and neighborhood/community parks.
(c) [Goal No. 7] Should expansion of the Clallam Bay Correctional Facility take place, it shall be encouraged within or adjacent to the urban growth area.
(5) Resource Lands Considerations. [Goal No. 8] State forestlands designated for long-term commercial forestry were included in the urban growth area in order to allow for growth and to provide a logical connection between the community and the Correction Center. Commercial forestry management of these lands should be allowed to continue as a preferred land use until nonforestry uses consistent with the land use policies of this section are proposed.
(6) Open Space and Environment Considerations.
(a) [Goal No. 9] The Clallam Bay-Sekiu urban growth area includes marine shorelines, the Clallam River and other smaller drainages, classified unstable bluffs near Midpoint and elsewhere, wetlands, and associated marine and terrestrial fish and wildlife. Many of the forested areas along shoreline bluffs are designated as priority habitat for bald eagles which are State and federally listed as threatened species. The area also provides important habitat as part of migration routes for salmon, waterfowl, raptors, and other species – several of which are listed as State and federal species of concern. Development of the urban growth area should mitigate impacts to these areas to ensure that the functions that such areas provide are retained and that human safety, property, and public resources are protected.
Clallam County and the Community Council should work with property owners to obtain grant funding or other monies in order to purchase the development rights from willing sellers to the landslide hazard areas located between Clallam Bay and Sekiu in order to more fully protect these critical areas from slides which could block roads or damage property.
(b) [Goal No. 10] Public park lands along the Clallam Bay waterfront should be designated as open space/public lands.
(c) [Goal No. 11] Clallam County should work with the Washington Department of Wildlife to develop an advanced Bald Eagle Management Plan for designated priority bald eagle habitat in the vicinity of Clallam Bay/Sekiu Urban Growth Area.