(1) BELIEF: Independence, private property rights and freedom from government intrusion are strongly valued within the RPC Planning Area. Land use regulation should incorporate these values and only compromise them when (1) highly significant objectives essential to the public health, safety or welfare cannot be attained in any other manner, or (2) the other beliefs expressed herein cannot be furthered in any other manner.

CONCEPT: This goal strikes at the heart of the land use philosophy of Western Clallam County. To this end land use regulation should be as minimal and flexible as possible. To promote flexibility; Comprehensive Plan and zoning classifications should be generally described and incorporate significantly more land than is necessary to accommodate anticipated growth. This principle is consistent with the abundance of vacant land identified in the inventory of this element.

Policy 1: Comprehensive Plan and zoning map designations should allow for significantly more land than is necessary to accommodate projected development.

Policy 2: Ample space should be provided for commercial development along SR 101 to allow for development of tourism.

Policy 3: Comprehensive Plan map designations and amendments should allow for maximum flexibility in development standards.

(2) BELIEF: Development should be encouraged and facilitated by land use regulation that is simple, user friendly, and inexpensive in application for both government and property owners.

CONCEPT: The importance of development is highlighted by the high unemployment discussed in this element. Permitting processes that reduce the costs of development should attract more development for the area and in turn more employment.

Policy 4: All land use permitting process should be consolidated as much as possible.

Policy 5: Brochures in easy to understand language should be prepared to explain the permitting process to permit applicants.

Policy 6: Unnecessary public hearings and public notification requirements should not be incorporated into land use regulation.

(3) BELIEF: The rural character of the RPC planning areas should be encouraged, but not mandated by legislative bodies.

CONCEPT: Large lots and open spaces provide a rural setting that is prized by the residents. In addition, the legislative bodies should encourage, but not mandate, the use of natural areas, landscape buffers and small landscaped areas of all sizes.

Policy 7: Zoning and permitting legislation should continue to permit current levels of agriculture within the FUGA in order to protect substantial, as well as historic farms.

(4) BELIEF: Regulations that reduce the value or use of private property should be minimized. All land owners should be fully compensated for any such regulation.

Policy 8: If a landowner’s property value or use is reduced by virtue of land use regulation, the City of Forks and Clallam County shall endorse any efforts by Forks UGA residents to obtain compensation from State or federal agencies that require such regulation.

(5) BELIEF: Planning should promote the efficient construction and use of capital facilities.

Policy 9: Impacts on capital facilities should be considered and mitigated when consistent with the other policies herein when land use regulation is formulated and implemented.

(6) BELIEF: Large ($7,000,000 or 100 people) development projects can place a strain on municipal services to the detriment of other users. Large developments should mitigate these impacts.

Policy 10: Efforts should be made to identify legal mechanisms whereby large developments can be held responsible for impact fees without placing a similar burden on more moderate ($1,000,000 or 30 people) development.

(7) BELIEF: Segregation of land uses into generally defined and flexible residential, commercial and industrial zoning classifications is a desirable means of preventing incompatible adjacent land uses and stabilizing property values.

Policy 11: Land uses should be segregated by Comprehensive Plan and zoning classifications into generally defined and flexible residential, commercial and industrial areas.

(8) BELIEF: Home based industries are an essential part of the economic vitality of the planning area and should be permitted in all zoning classifications to the extent compatible with surrounding land uses.

CONCEPT: The high unemployment for the area necessitates the creation of opportunities for the development of business.

Policy 12: Home based industries should be allowed in all zoning classifications and at a minimum should be permitted if they do not create any significant disruption to adjoining uses.

(9) BELIEF: Land use regulation should not impose burdens upon land uses that have been established in undeveloped areas due to the subsequent development of adjacent, incompatible land uses.

Policy 13: When assigning zoning classifications to areas within the planning area, priority should be given to land uses that preexisted adjacent land uses.

(10) BELIEF: The City of Forks and Clallam County that historical and archaeological sites have intrinsic educational, cultural, heritage, and economic value.

Policy 14: The City of Forks and Clallam County, with the assistance of local citizens, should develop a method of identifying historical resources that can be plotted and recorded in a comprehensive inventory of buildings, structures and sites within the FUGA.

Policy 15: The City of Forks and Clallam County should develop incentives, without imposing penalties, for property owners who maintain their stewardship of historical lands, sites, and structures.