Residents in the West End Planning Region have historically enjoyed a rural lifestyle that, due to their remote location and traditional occupations, has been largely free from government regulations and intrusion. Industries such as commercial forestry and cattle farming have helped to foster a strong sense of independence throughout the West End community. This sense of independence is further strengthened by the remoteness of the region. The opportunities and options available in more metropolitan areas are not as readily available in the West End, making self-sufficiency more of an imperative.

In recent years, regulations aimed at protecting environmentally sensitive areas from degradation have been implemented throughout the region. While there is little debate over the need to protect environmentally sensitive areas, the methods employed to achieve this end are considered by many to be excessive and burdensome to affected property owners.

The West End Planning Commission feels it is both possible and necessary to strike a balance between the protection of valuable environmental amenities and private property rights. The following policy is designed to help achieve this goal:

Zoning ordinances, when applied to real property subject to the Clallam County Critical Areas Ordinance, the Shoreline Management Act, or the Floodplain FIRM Map/Management Plan (e.g., wetlands, steep slopes, floodplains, etc.), shall permit the transferring of densities from that portion of the parcel subject to the applicable ordinance to the remaining non-critical area portion of the property. However, no density will be allowed on the noncritical area acreage that would exceed the density allowed for the entire parcel (both critical area portions and noncritical area portions). In addition, all densities shall be subject to prevailing health codes.

While this policy shall apply to all land use designations, it will only be utilized with lands designated as being subject to the Clallam County Critical Areas Code, the Shoreline Management Act, and/or the Floodplain FIRM Map/Management Plan.

An example of this transferring of densities would be as follows:

Developer owns a parcel of land that consists of a total of 15 acres in a zoning district that allows a maximum residential density of one dwelling unit per five acres. Under the zoning code, the property could be divided to create three lots for future single-family development. However, 10 acres are located within the FIRM 100-year floodplain, and one acre is designated as steep slopes (i.e., landslide hazard areas). Transferring of densities would allow the developer to still create three lots; provided, that each lot contains adequate potential building sites outside of the floodplain and steep slope areas, and that the land division complies with all applicable public health codes.