(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 only now becoming evident in certain locations in the eastern end of the Straits Region and are not commonplace in the western portion of the Straits Region. The absence of sprawl is not attributed to different policies or regulatory controls designed to protect “rural character,” but rather to: (a) remoteness of the area; (b) development of rural lands closer to employment centers in eastern Clallam County; and (c) large acreages being owned and managed by the government for timber, recreation, and wilderness protection and large ownerships managed by private timber companies.

The potential for rural type sprawl exists in the Straits Region because current rural designations allow rural residential densities of one acre, 2.4 acres, and five (5) acres over large contiguous areas. These allowable densities are the same as rural lands in the vicinity of Port Angeles and Sequim and similar to other Washington localities where rural type sprawl is occurring. The typical land use pattern resulting in areas developing under these allowable densities more closely resembles a large lot subdivision characterized by uniform lot sizes, large lawns, and limited rural uses; rather than the former mixture of large and small lot sizes and rural land uses.

One acre densities spread over large areas that are not rural in character promote a density of development which leads to demand for urban levels of service in terms of schools, roads, and emergency services and do not support efficient provision of urban services. While 2.4 and five (5) acre lot sizes can appear rural in nature when mixed with larger lots, the repetition of this 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.

The area most at risk for rural type uniform sprawl is the area generally described as east of Low Point, west of the Elwha River and between the Olympic foothills and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This area contains over 10,666 acres of rural lands with allowed densities of five (5) acres or below, seventy (70) percent of which is at 2.4 acre densities and below.

(2) Urban Residential Density Development in Rural Areas. Commercial uses, industrial uses, and residential densities (exceeding one unit per acre when allowed to spread over large areas) are identified in the Clallam County County-wide Policies as urban in nature. These types of intensive developments are better suited for development in the designated urban growth area of Joyce.

The Growth Management Act does provide for two (2) types of urban density growth outside urban growth areas. These include new fully contained communities and master planned resorts. New fully contained communities are large-scale developments (640 acres) including a mix of residential, commercial and industrial land uses. Their establishment would require the formation of a new urban growth area and a corresponding decrease in established urban growth areas. Master planned resorts (240 acres) are self contained and fully integrated planned unit developments, in a setting of significant natural amenities, with a primary focus on destination resort facilities with developed on-site indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. The County can develop policies to guide the development of these type of facilities.

(3) Rural Commercial Activities. Tourist and neighborhood commercial development areas such as at the intersection of Camp Hayden Road and Highway 112 need to 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 service centers. The visual impact of nonresidential land uses in rural areas should be reduced through the use of high quality landscaping and design guidelines. Likewise resort facilities at Whiskey Creek Resort, at Crescent Beach, and at the Lyre River Campground should be designated for tourist commercial or rural limited commercial. Commercial uses allowed in rural residential zones should be limited by size and type in order to encourage commercial growth in urban growth areas and in appropriately designated tourist commercial areas.

(4) Retaining Scenic Corridors along State Highways. State Highway 112 is the major travel route in the Straits 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.