Del Norte County Municipal Code § 21.14 CT Coastal Timber Zone District

The coastal timber zone is intended to protect forested lands within the California Coastal Zone which have not been designated as timber preserve zones (TPZ) but which are considered of commercial value. These include forested areas with Class III or better timber which comprise a parcel of twenty acres or larger. Changes of district from coastal timber zone to another classification are to be made only where such uses are in accord with the General Plan or adopted specific plan.

For the purposes of Section 21.52.20(A)(4), the coastal timber zone uses listed under the principal permitted use section herein shall be considered as the principal permitted use in the California Coastal Zone. Variances and adjustments to the district's requirements and standards shall not be considered a principal permitted use for purposes of Section 21.52.20(A)(4).

The regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply in all coastal timber zone districts, subject to the provisions of Chapters 21.02 through 21.60.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

In the CT zone the principal permitted use is the growing and harvesting of timber and uses accessory (compatible) thereto. The following accessory uses are deemed to be compatible with growing and harvesting of timber provided they do not significantly detract from the use of the property for, or inhibit, growing and harvesting timber:

1. Management for watershed.

2. Management for fish and wildlife habitat.

3. A use integrally related to the growing, harvesting and processing of forest products, including but not limited to roads, log landings, and log storage area (portable chippers and portable sawmills are considered a part of "processing").

4. The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance of gas, electric, water or communication transmission facilities.

5. Grazing and uses accessory to grazing.

6. Mineral extraction subject to the requirements of Chapter 7.36.

7. Temporary labor camps, less than one year in duration, accessory to timber harvesting or planting operations.

8. Recreational use of the land for any of the following: walking, hiking, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting and skiing.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))

Permits authorized under this section cannot be approved if such use will significantly detract from the use of the property for, or inhibit, growing and harvesting timber:

1. Timber products processing plants (buildings) for commercial processing of wood and wood products, including sawmills, lumber and plywood mills but not including a pulp mill.

2. Public camps, public stables and similar recreational uses, not including recreational vehicle parks or mobilehome parks.

3. Single-family dwelling mobilehome or a manufactured home and normal accessory uses and structures for owner or caretaker.

(Ord. 95-06 § 4 (part), 1995: Ord. 83-03 (part))

1. Parcels zoned as coastal timberland under this chapter may be considered for division into parcels containing twenty acres or more provided the following conditions are complied with:

   1. The owners of the resulting parcels submit or the present owner makes sufficient provisions for a joint timber management plan prepared or approved as to content by a registered professional forester.

   2. Such owners enter into a binding contract with the county of Del Norte to manage and harvest timber on the timberland jointly and are bound by the provisions of the management plan for a minimum period of ten years.

2. Parcels less than twenty acres in size may be created when the one unit/twenty acres density is not exceeded but where the parcels shall not be smaller than that allowed utilizing the rural land division criteria as set forth in the land use categories section of the Local Coastal Plan and in Title 16 of the Del Norte County Code. Such a project shall be subject to conditions (A)(1) and (2) of this section and to the D district combining zone (Chapter 21.36) to ensure that there is no further division than that permitted by the Local Coastal Plan density.

(Ord. 83-03 (part))