2007 CHINA-U.S. Sustainable Land Use Training Program. Farm and Forest Land Use Planning Clackamas County

Transcription

1 2007 CHINA-U.S. Sustainable Land Use Training Program Farm and Forest Land Use Planning Clackamas County

2 Clackamas County, Oregon August/September 2007 R. Scott Pemble, Planning Manager Department of Transportation and Development

3 Oregon State Land Use Laws 1973 Senate Bill 100 Adopted Requires all City and County governments to prepare Comprehensive Plans and Land Use regulations Plans must implement Statewide Planning Goals Statewide Planning Goals include urban, rural (Farm, Forest and Exception lands), natural, historical and cultural resources, economic, transportation, housing, energy, recreation and public facility Goals. This presentation will focus on Statewide Planning Goals 3 and 4, Farm and Forest land protections.

4 Clackamas County One of Four Metro Area Counties

5 Settlement of Clackamas County

6 About Clackamas County 4,867 sq. kilometers 367,730 people 140,553 households 40% of the county s land base is in forest lands. 14 cities Average income Household $74,758 (566,613 CNY) Per Capita $29,537 (223,870 CNY) 4.6% families below poverty level Mt. Hood is second most climbed mountain peak in the world. Average age 37 yrs. old Gender 51% Female 49% Male

7 Farm and Forest Zones Clackamas County 25% of privately-owned land in Clackamas County is zoned for farm protection. 50% of the land in Clackamas County is owned by the Federal Government. 53% of privately-owned land in Clackamas County is zoned for forestry protection.

8 Urban Pressure to Develop Farm and Forest Lands

9 Farm and Forest Land Use Planning State land use law governs Clackamas County s Farm and Forest Comprehensive Plan and Zoning regulations. Required to contain urban development and sprawl and protect most valuable lands for farm and forest uses. Rules have become very complicated farm zone regulations were 7 pages in 1978 and are now 24 pages plus.

10 Two Questions: 1. Which lands should be protected for Farm and Forest Uses? 2. What uses should be allowed in the areas protected by Farm and Forest zoning?

11 Lands Suitable for Preserving Farming and Forestry Uses It took 8 years for Clackamas County to determine which lands should be preserved and zoned for exclusive farm and forestry uses only. Many land owners disagreed with the County and did not want to limit lot divisions and land uses and argued that their lands were not suitable for farming or forestry. Experts examined properties countywide to determine which lands were most valuable for protection based on soils, slopes and existing development patterns.

12 Comprehensive Plan Goals: Farming Preserve lands with prime agricultural soils suitable for farming. Preserve farm land from urbanization. Maintain farming as an economic base. Expand and attract farm industries. Preserve natural resources and the environment.

13 Farming Zoning and Development Regulations (State Requirements) One residence allowed on 80 acres (32 hectares) of land to create larger farms. $80,000 (606,344 CNY) must be produced from farming the property prior to allowing a residence. Incompatible uses to farming are not allowed in farm zones. Some non-farm uses allowed include schools, churches and golf courses.

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15 Oregon s Top 10 Agricultural Counties Marion Clackamas Washington Umatilla Linn Yamhill Morrow Malheur Klamath Polk $585.3 million $394.6 million $321.7 million $289.4 million $282.0 million $276.5 million $249.9 million $249.4 million $205.1 million $146.3 million

16 Clackamas County Farming The county ranks 2nd in the state in gross farm and ranch sales ($394.5 million or 2,990,033,850 CNY). Clackamas County is 1st in greenhouse and nursery sales with $213.8 million (1,614,390,900 CYN) in sales annually. Greenhouse and nursery totals equals 23% of all county farm sales. The county ranks 2nd in the state in Cane Berries sales ($10.8 million or 81,856,440 CYN).

17 Has Farm Zoning Worked in Clackamas County? YES. Large lots are being preserved in farm zones. 62 lots were created in new lots were created in 2006 There are very few new homes being built in farm zones. 64 homes allowed in homes allowed in 2006

18 Comprehensive Plan Goals: Forestry Conserve and protect forest lands. Maintain and improve growth and employment opportunities in the forest products industry. Preserve natural resources and the environment.

19 Forestry Zoning and Development Regulations (State Requirements) Only forestry operations and activities allowed on land zoned for exclusive forest use. Minimum lot size of 80 acres (32 hectares) of land to preserve large forest tracts. Residences may be built on properties of at least 160 acres (65 hectares). Some non forest uses allowed include airports, parks and fire stations.

20 Has Forest Zoning Worked in Clackamas County? YES. Large lots are being preserved in forest zones. 28 lots were created in new lot was created in 2006 There are very few new homes being built in forest zones. 81 homes allowed in homes allowed in 2006

21 Future Challenges State requirements to expand the urban growth boundary will continue to threaten farm and forest lands. Continued pressure to build homes on farm and forest lands. New farming practices and growth pressures mean we may need to change how we chose which land to protect.

22 Conclusions Land use planning is focusing on urban development and containing sprawl to insure preservation of farm and forest land. Comprehensive planning and zoning protects farm and forest lands for production and economic viability.

23 QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS?