Title
GPU Zoning Maps
Project Description: New Zoning Districts are proposed to be added to the Inland Zoning Ordinance and existing zoning text is proposed to be amended to be consistent with the 2017 Humboldt County General Plan. The Humboldt County General Plan was adopted in October, 2017 which established the kinds, locations, and intensities of land uses within the unincorporated areas of the County by applying land use designations to properties. To be consistent with the new Land Use Maps and General Plan policies and standards, new Zoning Districts are proposed to be added to the Inland Zoning Ordinance (Section 314 of Title Ill, Division 1, Chapter 4 of Humboldt County Code) including the following:
1. Mixed Use Zones that apply to areas with MU - Mixed Use, VC - Village Center, or RCC - Rural Community Center General Plan designations,
2. TE - Timberland Exclusive zone applied to areas with a “T - Timberland” General Plan Land Use designation that are not zoned “TPZ” or AE-B-5-(160) and part of an agricultural preserve,
3. “PR - Public Resource and Recreation” Zone applied to publicly owned lands with a “Public Lands” General Plan Land Use designation,
4. “TL - Tribal Land” Zone applied to areas with a “TL - Tribal Lands” General Plan Land Use designation and that are not zoned “TPZ” and to lands with a “TTL - Tribal Trust Lands” General Plan Land Use designation,
5. “RR - Railroad” Combining Zone applied to railroad rights of way held by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and those along the former Annie and Mary Railroad rail corridor between Arcata and Blue Lake,
6. “MR - Mineral Resources” Combining Zone applied to parcels with permitted surface mining operations, and
7. “PRD - Planned Rural Development” Combining Zone to provide voluntary clustering of home sites on resource lands.
In addition, existing zoning text is proposed to be amended to be consistent with the Plan. These changes include
(a) Section 314-7.1 “AE - Agriculture Exclusive Zone”, to increase the minimum parcel size to 60 acres, allow the uses specified in the AE - Agricultural Exclusive General Plan designation, allow subdivisions to increase agricultural productivity, and to limit conversion of prime agricultural soils;
(b) Section 314-7.4 “TPZ - Timberland Production Zone” to allow the uses specified in the T - Timber Production General Plan designation,
(c) Section 314-21.1 “F - Flood Hazard Areas” to require a Special Permit for residential development on substandard-sized parcels in a flood hazard zone,
(d) Section 314-61.1 Streamside Management Areas and Wetlands to align with the standards of the Open Space Element, and
(e) Section 312, Administration, Procedures, Amendments and Enforcement to incorporate findings of consistency with the General Plan Open Space Plan.
Recommendation
The proposed new Zone Districts would apply throughout the non-coastal areas of unincorporated Humboldt County. The Planning and Building Department is recommending the Planning Commission approve the proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance and the Addendum to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan prepared for this project.