Chapter 18.20
AGRICULTURAL ZONES1
Sections:
18.20.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter, providing for the establishment of agricultural zones, is to implement the goals, policies and objectives of the comprehensive plan and the Growth Management Act for the preservation of commercially viable prime agricultural land. The following provisions shall apply:
A. The A zone areas are intended primarily for farming activities and accessory and agricultural support uses normally associated with a farming operation and animal husbandry including related value added operations intended to support existing farms and ranches and the viability of the local farm economy.
B. Agricultural uses and prime commercial farm ground shall be protected from encroachment by nonagricultural uses, such as industrial, commercial, and residential uses, not associated with agricultural activities or support uses, except as may be permitted in this code to promote the economic health of the farming economy and the community including uses best located away from more intense development, intended to serve public recreational and traveling needs as well as destination resorts and fully contained communities and other intense land uses allowed by the Growth Management Act outside of designated urban growth areas while protecting against the significant or unnecessary loss of prime agricultural ground.
C. Assure that those portions of the county containing prime agricultural soils will be preserved for agricultural enterprises.
D. Promote the development of agricultural economy support services and expansion as well as diversification opportunities including value added and agri-tourism.
E. It is not intended to allow the development of urban uses best located in urban growth areas.
F. The A-1 zone does allow for the development of permanent single-family residences with a limited density that support agricultural or other permitted uses or are compatible with agricultural and other permitted uses in the zone.
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Subject |
Zone District |
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A-1 |
A-2 |
A-3 |
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Maximum building height |
35 feet |
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Minimum parcel size |
40 acres (See Note 1) |
5 acres |
10 acres |
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Setbacks |
See Note 2 |
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Front |
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County road |
15 feet + 1/2 ROW from centerline |
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State highway |
Outside WSDOT safety zone or 10 feet from ROW, whichever is greater |
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Private road |
10 feet from ROW |
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Side |
10 feet |
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Rear |
10 feet |
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Minimum road frontage or lot width |
330 feet |
330 feet |
330 feet |
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Signage |
2 signs, 32 square feet each |
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Notes:
1. The above-mentioned minimum lot size and dimension shall not apply if the subdivision is for the following; however, the density requirement shall be applied to all residential development either through maintenance of a 40-acre minimum lot size or deed restrictions limiting future residential development on the remainder parent parcel(s):
a. Where located in a PUD; created for an essential public facility or created in conjunction with an agricultural support use such as but not limited to grain elevators or crop transportation facility; a communications facility; a single-lot multiple-unit migrant worker housing development; a veterinary clinic or animal hospital; abattoir, quarry or similar allowed or conditional uses.
b. Subdivisions for the creation of single-family residential lots for abandoned and existing home sites, of not more than five acres consistent with adopted policies designed to limit the conversion of productive agricultural land including:
i. The density of the zone must be maintained including through the use of deed restriction on future residential development and the parent lot must be 40 acres or greater in size.
ii. The proposed residential lot is within a distinct area of one-half to not more than five acres of land which are of insufficient size, quality and/or accessibility to be efficiently used for agricultural production for income. “Distinct” shall mean that the subject area is substantially bounded by natural or manmade features which buffer this land from agricultural lands such as wooded areas, steep canyon walls, railroads, surface waters or public roads.
iii. The subject lot must have immediate access or an established easement to the proposed lot to an improved county or state road. “Improved” shall mean graveled surface or better and not detract from existing access for the parent lot.
iv. The area of the subject lot shall have an adequate minimum area required by the Columbia County environment health official to safely accommodate approved water supply and on-site sewage disposal systems.
v. The subdivision shall leave a maximum amount of commercially cultivatable land available.
vi. The lot configuration shall not detract from the practicable use of the parent agricultural lot.
vii. The purpose of the subdivision shall be for preservation or construction of a permanent owner-occupied or long-term leased, year-round single-family dwelling unit.
viii. The property owner may request an administrative variance to create a residential lot in excess of five acres, if it can be demonstrated that the land involved is clearly not agriculturally viable, due to terrain, soil type, or other restriction that prevents the area from being farmed. This variance may be approved by the planning director as part of the short plat application. The approval shall be based on specific findings regarding the agricultural viability of the additional land to be included in the residential lot.
2. Structures housing domestic animals or any use that produces offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat or glare shall maintain 50-foot front, rear and side yard setbacks.
[Ord. 2022-02; Ord. 2020-02 § 2 (Exh. G); Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. E); Ord. 2015-02 § 2; Ord. 2012-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2011-01 § 2(A) (Exh. B); Ord. 95-01 § 8; Ord. 90-02 § 8.]
Code reviser’s note: CCC 18.20.020 through 18.20.050 were editorially removed at the request of the county.
Prior legislation: Res. 2000-19, Ords. 2001-01, 2002-01, 2008-04 and 2016-01.