Clatsop County Oregon - Comprehensive Plan Administrator 2004 In Review 2005-06 Goals Budget Charter Citizen Committees Directions to County Facilities Directory of County Services National Institute of Corrections Report Office Hours Rural Address Guide Speakers Bureau Useful Links Veterans Services Agenda / Minutes News Releases Resources / Links Documents Help Topics CONTACT: Administrator Scott Derickson 800 Exchange Street Astoria, OR 97103 (503) 325-1000 administrator@co.clatsop.or.us Comprehensive Plan The Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan County-Wide Element and Background Report is available here. Because of its size, the document is divided into sections called Goals to ease accessibility. Statewide Planning Goals Since 1973, Oregon has maintained a strong statewide program for land use planning. The foundation of that program is a set of 19 Statewide Planning Goals. The goals express the state?s policies on land use and on related topics, such as citizen involvement, housing, and natural resources. Most of the goals are accompanied by ?guidelines,? which are suggestions about how a goal may be applied. As noted in Goal 2, guidelines are not mandatory. View the Department of Land Conservation and Development?s Web page and the Statewide Planning Goals in detail: http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/goals.shtml Clatsop County?s Comprehensive Plan is Consistent with Statewide Planning Goals Oregon?s statewide goals are achieved through local comprehensive planning. State law requires each city and county to adopt a comprehensive plan and the zoning and land- division ordinances needed to put the plan into effect. The local comprehensive plans must be consistent with the Statewide Planning Goals. The state?s Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) reviews local comprehensive plans for consistency with the Statewide Planning Goals. When LCDC officially approves a local government?s plan, the plan is said to be ?acknowledged.? It then becomes the controlling document for land use in the area covered by that plan. Oregon?s planning laws apply not only to local governments but also to special districts and state agencies. The laws strongly emphasize coordination ? keeping plans and programs consistent with each other, with the goals, and with acknowledged local plans. Clatsop County Zoning Ordinance of 1966 Comprehensive Plan Introduction Introduction to Goals 6-14 Introduction to Goals 16 and 17 Links to Oregon Statewide Planning Goals on left Links to Clatsop County's Comprehensive Plan on right http://clatsopcounty.us/default.asp?pageid=313&dept=12 (1 of 2)10/19/2005 7:37:13 AM Clatsop County Oregon - Comprehensive Plan Goal 1 Citizen Involvement Clatsop 1 Goal 2 Land Use Planning Clatsop 2 Goal 3 Agricultural Lands Clatsop 3 Goal 4 Forest Lands Clatsop 4 Goal 5 Open Spaces, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Natural ResourcesClatsop 5 Goal 6 Air, Water and Land Resources Quality Clatsop 6 Goal 7 Areas Subject to Natural Disasters and Hazards Clatsop 7 Goal 8 Recreational Needs Clatsop 8 Goal 9 Economic Development Clatsop 9 Goal 10 Housing Clatsop 10 Goal 11 Public Facilities and Services Clatsop 11 Goal 12 Transportation Clatsop 12 Goal 13 Energy Conservation Clatsop 13 Goal 14 Urbanization Clatsop 14 Goal 15 Willamette River Greenway ? (Willamette River area only) N/A Goal 16 Estuarine Resources Clatsop 16 Goal 17 Coastal Shorelands Clatsop 17 Goal 18 Beaches and Dunes Clatsop 18 Goal 19 Ocean Resources ? (Oregon Off-Shore Territorial Waters only) N/A This page contains PDF documents Adobe Acrobat reader is required to view PDF files. ? 2005 Clatsop County, Oregon. All rights reserved. terms and conditions | privacy http://clatsopcounty.us/default.asp?pageid=313&dept=12 (2 of 2)10/19/2005 7:37:13 AM CLATSOP COUNTY OREGON GOAL 8 ? RECREATIONAL LANDS CLATSOP COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS, POLICIES & ACTION PLANS Adopted by Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Amended by Ordinance 05-04 Codified and Effective March 25, 2005 Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 Chapter 8 Introduction Clatsop County recreational land sites are utilized by the public for a wide range of recreational activities. Many of these activities are tied to the enjoyment of the natural plant and wildlife communities that currently exist on these publicly owned lands. The preservation of existing vegetative communities and wildlife habitat systems should be an important consideration in examining the desirability of future park development projects. The County?s park and recreational lands are valuable natural, cultural and economic resources of its residences. The County is home to approximately 35,6301 permanent residents. The population swells in excess of 80,000 on summer weekends as vacationers are drawn by the scenery, mild weather, small-town atmosphere and wealth of natural beauty. The region is well known for its history and many recreational opportunities afforded by the ocean beaches, dense forests, mountains, rivers and streams. More than 80 percent of the land in the County is forested. Traditionally Clatsop County?s economic was dependent on products and activities associated with its renewable natural resources. New restrictions on harvesting these resources and changes in markets have contributed to the decline of both the seafood and forest product industries. On the other hand, tourism and other visitor-related activity has become more dominant. A workforce analysis by the Oregon Employment Department for February 2003 showed approximately 24 percent of the total private employment in leisure and hospitality and about 12.8 percent in natural resources and mining, wood product manufacturing and paper manufacturing. The County?s attractive natural and historic features, in combination with its recreational opportunities, are likely to continue to attract growing numbers of visitors. At the same time, these features are of great importance and are cherished by the citizens who live here. The government of Clatsop County owns and manages nearly 1,300 acres of County parks, recreational land sites, public parks and recreational areas. These parcels range from highly developed parks, such as Cullaby Lake, to primitive, passive recreational sites, such as David Douglas. ______________ 1This number is based on year 2000 U.S. Census, from the Center of Population Research and Census, Portland State University. Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 1 Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 8 requires local governments to inventory recreation needs based upon adequate research and analysis of public wants and desires: to inventory recreation opportunities based on adequate research and analysis resources that might be available and urges long-range plans and action programs to meet recreational needs. Among various issues, Goal 8 focuses attention on facilities and uses that meet recreational needs for high density population centers and persons of limited mobility and finances, provide maximum conservation of energy and minimize environmental deterioration, are available to the public at nominal cost and meet the needs of visitors to the state. Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 660-034-040 suggests appropriate zoning categories and map designations (a ?local park? zone or overlay zone is recommended), including objective land use and siting review criteria, in order to authorize the existing and planned park uses described in local park master plan. Further, OAR 660-034-0040 provides for the uses listed in OAR 660-034-0035-(2)(a) through 660-034-0035-(2)(g) on agricultural or forest land within a local park provided such uses master plan that meets specific requirements. Uses include campground areas, day use areas, recreational trails, boating and fishing facilities, park visitor and employee amenities, park land support facilities and infrastructure, park maintenance and management facilities, natural and cultural resource interpretative, educational and informational facilities, and visitor lodging and retreat facilities. Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 2 Goals Goal 8 ? Recreation Goal 1. Satisfy the recreational needs of the citizens of the state and visitors and, where appropriate, to provide for the siting of necessary recreational facilities including destination resorts. 2. Provide opportunities for Clatsop County residents and visitors to enjoy a variety of quality outdoor recreational experiences through the development and maintenance of a well-balanced county-wide park system. 3. Establish a stable, dedicated funding mechanism for the County?s park system. 4. Preserve and enhance the County?s parks, open space and recreational lands. 5. Provide a well maintained and secure parks system. 6. Protect and expand public access to streams, rivers and lakes. 7. Encourage, create and improve recreation projects, programs and partnerships. 8. Encourage and maximize citizen input into the County?s parks planning and development process. 9. Develop, adopt and implement an updated County Park Master Plan through coordination with the Recreational Lands Advisory Committee. 10. Coordinate with the National Park Service and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in the development of their park facilities. Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 3 Policies 1. The County should protect, manage, enhance and preserve identified park resources and recreational land resources. 2. The County should coordinate with school districts, state and federal park agencies on regional and local use parks and recreational sites in its planning process. 3. The County shall establish a basic parks maintenance program to provide garbage collection, litter patrols, security and general site maintenance for all of its day use facilities. 4. The County should, to the extent practicable, retain existing county-owned stream front properties identified in adopted or approved park master plans, the County Transportation System Plan, or as needed for public access such as boat ramps, trails or other recreational needs. 5. Future park development shall to the extent practicable, consider handicapped accessibility as a design consideration, to include recreational trails, fishing docks, boat ramps and other improvement projects. 6. County park and recreational lands shall be managed in accordance with county adopted or approved park master plans. 7. The County should encourage development of public access and educational programs that promote primitive recreation sites. 8. The Recreational Lands Advisory Committee will maintain a public forum for citizen input regarding any future changes that potentially impact parks, recreational lands, trails, boat ramps and related programs within the county. 9. The County shall participate with other governmental, private, regional, volunteer and non-profit groups and agencies in coordinating planning efforts that may impact the County?s recreational resources or park master plans. 10. The County should encourage private commercial timber landowners to develop recreational plans that provide access to their lands including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching or other passive recreational uses. 11. The preservation of existing vegetative communities and wildlife habitat systems should be an important consideration in examining the desirability of future park development or improvement projects. Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 4 12. County owned recreational land sites shall be managed in accordance with adopted park master plans and the general management direction statements contained in this report. 13. Clatsop County shall utilize the County Recreational Lands Committee as a primary public review body for all County actions related to recreation issues. This committee shall be given the opportunity to review and comment on all County recreational issued including: ? Potential County land sales involving County Park lands or lands adjoining County park properties; ? Potential County timber sales involving County Park lands or lands adjoining County park properties; ? Major County Park improvement proposals; and ? Annual County Parks budget proposals. 14. No existing County-owned recreational lands sites shall be sold, traded, rezoned or exchanged without the input of the County Recreational Lands Advisory Committee and a careful examination of existing and potential recreation values. 15. The existing Clatsop County recreational lands sites identified in its master plan shall be formally recognized by Clatsop County as ?county park?, except for Delaura Beach. 16. All revenue generated from the use, sale or lease of county parks shall be used solely for county park purposes. 17. The County shall promote the establishment of a connected system of recreational trails. 18. The County shall coordinate with the State of Oregon in the development of a Park Master Plan for its Sunset Beach property. 19. Periodically review and update the County Park Master Plan. Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 5 Ordinance 05-04, effective date March 25, 2005 6 Action Strategies: 1. Actively pursue long-term use agreements for public access to County maintained boat ramps on private properties and develop new sites as funding allows. 2. Monitor the Division of State Lands (DSL) identification of navigable coastal streams to allow for public access. 3. Actively pursue the acquisition of stream frontage sites for water related recreational uses such as fishing, or passive recreation such as bird watching. 4. Develop and adopt an updated County Park Master Plan. 5. Develop a long-term funding strategy to stabilize funding for park development, maintenance and staff support. 6. Adopt goal exceptions on resource lands, in order to adopt regulations that support certain types of recreational facilities as Type I development permits. NOTE: OAR 660-034-0040(3) All uses allowed under Statewide Goal 3 are allowed on agricultural land within a local park and all uses allowed under Statewide Goal 4 are allowed on forest land within a local park, in accordance with applicable laws, statewide goals, and rules. 7. Eliminate any provision of the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Master Plan that prohibits the development of full service recreational camp grounds on County owned lands and amend County ordinances to allow for the development of campgrounds and RV parks on County owned properties.2 8. A ?county park? zone designation shall be created to support the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Master Plan in conformance with OAR 660-034-0035(2)(a) through 660-034-0035(2)(i). 9. Eliminate conflicting provisions of the Clatsop Plains Area Plan unless it can be demonstrated that public and private infrastructure or natural systems are unable to accommodate future park development. 10. Consider zone district text amendments that support Clatsop County Recreational Lands Master Plan. W/pl/backgrd/goal8reclandsord.05-04