YEAH REALLY!

Clallam County Codes and Enforcement

Carlsborg UGA (Urban Growth Area) and

The Honor System

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/266470681.html

Clallam county has building codes designed to control what can be built and how it is to be built and to regulate (mitigate) impacts of development on surrounding community such as landscaping, lighting and sight and sound buffers. http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/clallamcounty.html

In particular we pay attention to the CCC (Clallam County Code): Chapter 33.20 CARLSBORG URBAN GROWTH AREA http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/ClallamCounty/html/clallamcounty33/ClallamCounty3320.html#33.20 and Chapter 33.53 LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/ClallamCounty/html/clallamcounty33/ClallamCounty3353.html#33.53 and the county's apparent inability/unwillingness to enforce said codes.

Relying instead, one could suppose, on an "HONOR SYSTEM", believing that the owner or builder/contractor know and understand the county codes and would adhere to and comply with the codes identified on their building permits and if needed conditional use mitigation permit. As the images show below, this "HONOR SYSTEM" does not work.

33.20.060 Development standards – Purpose and intent.

Development standards are established to ensure the compatibility of uses permitted within the Carlsborg UGA and to ensure the protection of the public health, safety and general welfare. All uses located within the Carlsborg UGA shall be subject to the development standards, as applicable, set forth in this section. http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/ClallamCounty/html/clallamcounty33/ClallamCounty3320.html#33.20.060 (2) Landscaping. Landscaping for commercial, industrial, mixed use, duplex, and multifamily developments shall comply with Chapter 33.53 CCC, Landscaping Requirements.

(a) Landscaped areas between public roads and parking shall be provided;

(b) Outside storage, garbage, recycling and maintenance facilities, and loading dock areas shall be screened from view from public roads and neighboring properties;

(c) Commercial/industrial development abutting residential areas shall include a landscape plan that describes tree/shrub species, size of plant materials, and the use of fencing, berms, or solid walls so that noise, light, and aesthetic impacts to residential properties are adequately minimized and/or mitigated.

(3) Off-Street Parking. Parking for commercial, industrial, mixed use, duplex, and multifamily developments shall comply with Chapter 33.55 CCC, Parking Standards.

(c) Parking areas shall include landscaping, fencing and/or berming substantially equivalent to the standards in Chapter 33.55 CCC when abutting existing single-family residences or residential zoning districts.

(d) Where practicable, parking for commercial developments should be located to the rear of the development site.

(e) Parking lighting shall not create off-site glare, and shall utilize “cut-off” type fixtures that ensure glare will be downward facing and/or shielded and directed away from neighboring properties.

(7) Services. Commercial, industrial, mixed use, duplex, and multifamily developments shall at a minimum include mailboxes, garbage and recycling pickup, pedestrian walkways and parking area lighting. In addition, the following performance standards shall be met:

(b) Street lighting shall be provided along walkways adjacent to and within the development. Lighting shall not create glare, and shall be downward facing and/or shielded and directed away from neighboring properties.

(c) Security lighting shall be provided in parking and designated outdoor recreation areas. Security lighting shall minimize glare, shall be downward facing and/or shielded, and shall be directed away from neighboring properties.

33.53.010 Landscaping definitions.

(1) “Visual screen” means evergreen and deciduous trees (no more than fifty (50) percent deciduous) planted twenty (20) feet on center, two (2) shrubs planted between each pair of trees, groundcover, and a solid fence of new materials.

(2) “Visual buffer” means evergreen and deciduous trees (no more than seventy-five (75) percent deciduous) planted thirty (30) feet on center, two (2) shrubs planted between each pair of trees, and groundcover. http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/ClallamCounty/html/clallamcounty33/ClallamCounty3353.html#33.53.010

Enforcement

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/266470681.html

The county and the DCD (Department of Community Development) continue to make excuses for their lack of Code Enforcement, “codes are not enforceable and they (Department of Community Development) don’t have the resources,”

“The DCD (Department of Community Development) doesn’t have a code enforcement officer,” LoPiccolo said. “I think it would be beneficial to the community to have an enforcement officer, but it is predicated on available resources.”

The fact of the matter is my wife and I both VOLUNTEERED to do the job of Enforcement Officer as far back as August, 2008. They didn't take us up on that offer and we still don't have an Enforcement Officer.