SSB 6575 -
By Senator Rasmussen
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 36.70A.177 and 2004 c 207 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A county or a city may use a variety of innovative zoning
techniques in areas designated as agricultural lands of long-term
commercial significance under RCW 36.70A.170. The innovative zoning
techniques should be designed to conserve agricultural lands and
encourage the agricultural economy. Except as provided in subsection
(3) of this section, a county or city should encourage nonagricultural
uses to be limited to lands with poor soils or otherwise not suitable
for agricultural purposes.
(2) Innovative zoning techniques a county or city may consider
include, but are not limited to:
(a) Agricultural zoning, which limits the density of development
and restricts or prohibits nonfarm uses of agricultural land and may
allow accessory uses, including nonagricultural related uses, that
support, promote, or sustain agricultural operations and production, as
provided in subsection (3) of this section;
(b) Cluster zoning, which allows new development on one portion of
the land, leaving the remainder in agricultural or open space uses;
(c) Large lot zoning, which establishes as a minimum lot size the
amount of land necessary to achieve a successful farming practice;
(d) Quarter/quarter zoning, which permits one residential dwelling
on a one-acre minimum lot for each one-sixteenth of a section of land;
and
(e) Sliding scale zoning, which allows the number of lots for
single-family residential purposes with a minimum lot size of one acre
to increase inversely as the size of the total acreage increases.
(3)(((a))) Accessory uses allowed under subsection (2)(a) of this
section shall comply with the following:
(((i))) (a) Accessory uses shall be located, designed, and operated
so as not to interfere with natural resource land uses ((and shall be
accessory to the growing of crops or raising of animals));
(((ii))) (b) Accessory ((commercial or retail)) uses ((shall
predominately produce, store, or sell regionally produced)) may
include:
(i) Agricultural activities, including but not limited to the
production, storage, distribution, and marketing of agricultural
products from one or more producers, products derived from ((regional))
agricultural production, agriculturally related experiences, or
products produced on-site((. Accessory commercial and retail uses
shall offer for sale predominantly products or services produced on-site)), including support services that facilitate these uses; and
(((iii) Accessory uses)) (ii) Nonagricultural related activities as
long as they are compatible in size, scale, and intensity with, will
not interfere with, and will support the continuation of, the
agricultural use of the property and neighboring properties; and
(c) Nonagricultural-related uses may operate out of existing or new
buildings with parking and other supportive uses consistent with the
size ((and)), scale, and intensity of the existing agricultural use of
the property and the existing buildings on the site but shall not
otherwise convert more than one acre of agricultural land to
nonagricultural ((uses)) related activities. Any new nonagricultural-related activities including new buildings, parking, or supportive uses
shall not be located outside the general area already developed for
buildings and residential uses.
(((b) Accessory uses may include compatible commercial or retail
uses including, but not limited to:))
(i) Storage and refrigeration of regional agricultural products;
(ii) Production, sales, and marketing of value-added agricultural
products derived from regional sources;
(iii) Supplemental sources of on-farm income that support and
sustain on-farm agricultural operations and production;
(iv) Support services that facilitate the production, marketing,
and distribution of agricultural products; and
(v) Off-farm and on-farm sales and marketing of predominately
regional agricultural products and experiences, locally made art and
arts and crafts, and ancillary retail sales or service activities.
(4) Counties have the discretion to authorize or limit
nonagricultural-related activities under subsection (3) of this section
in areas designated as agricultural lands of long-term commercial
significance."
SSB 6575 -
By Senator
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "lands;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 36.70A.177."