45.1 COASTAL-DEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

45.1.1 Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that Coastal-Dependent Industrial Development shall be located within, contiguous with, or in close proximity to, existing developed industrial areas, or where such areas are not able to accommodate it, to locate such development in other areas with adequate public services and where it will not have significant adverse effects on coastal resources. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(A))

45.1.2 Applicability. The provisions of these regulations shall apply in all zones in which Coastal-Dependent Industrial use types and Coastal-Related use types are permitted. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(B))

45.1.3 Environmental Review to Include Alternative Site Study. Coastal-Dependent and Coastal-Related Industrial Developments shall be subject to the following requirements, in addition to California Environmental Quality Act requirements: (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C))

45.1.3.1 The initial environmental study and subsequent environmental documents shall include, at a minimum, a comparative evaluation of appropriately designated alternative locations to the project site; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(1))

45.1.3.2 Alternative sites included in the evaluations shall include, at a minimum, those sites identified by the following agencies, from whom input shall be solicited: (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(2))

45.1.3.2.1 California Coastal Commission, (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(2)(a))

45.1.3.2.2 Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District, (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(2)(b))

45.1.3.2.3 Army Corps of Engineers, and (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(2)(c))

45.1.3.2.4 Humboldt County Planning Division. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(2)(d))

45.1.3.3 Alternative sites shall be classified in accordance with the following priority schedule: (Former Section CZ#A314-5(C)(3))

45.1.3.3.1 Priority 1 Sites.

Sites with existing facilities suitable to accommodate the proposed use, or that could accommodate the proposed use with minor alteration or through expansion of the existing facilities;

45.1.3.3.2 Priority 2 Sites.

The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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Sites which require construction of new facilities to accommodate the proposed use, but which do not require conversion of wetlands. Within this category, preferred sites are those requiring least alteration (e.g., dredging, grading, habitat modification);

45.1.3.3.3 Priority 3 Sites.

Sites where the proposed use could be accommodated only through the conversion of wetlands;

45.1.3.3.4 Priority 4 Sites

Sites where the proposed use could be accommodated only through the dredging of a new deep water channel.

45.1.4 Public Acquisition of Priority Sites. Where appropriate, the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District shall be petitioned by the County to consider exercising its right of eminent domain to acquire and manage the site as identified pursuant to Section 313-45.1.3. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(D))

45.1.5 Required Findings. Coastal-Dependent Industrial Uses and Coastal-Related Industrial Uses shall be approved only if the applicable Industrial Development Findings of Chapter 2, Procedures, Supplemental Findings, are made. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(E))

45.1.6 Marine Petroleum Transfer Facilities Prohibited. The applicable Industrial Development Findings shall be made prior to approval of new, or expansions to existing marine petroleum transfer facilities and marine transfer facilities for other hazardous liquids. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(F))

45.1.7 Required Mitigations. The coastal-dependent industrial and coastal-related industrial facilities shall be designed and operated to incorporate the following mitigation measures, as applicable: (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G))

45.1.7.1 Adverse environmental effects will be mitigated to the maximum extent feasible and will conform to the applicable provisions of the Special Area Combining Zone Regulations, and the other resource protection regulations of this division; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(1))

45.1.7.2 Maximum feasible and legally permissible multi-company use shall occur; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(2))

45.1.7.3 The total volume of oil spilled shall be minimized; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(3))

45.1.7.4 Approved facilities shall have ready access to the most effective feasible containment and recovery equipment for spills; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(4))

45.1.7.5 Approved facilities shall have onshore deballasting facilities to receive fouled ballast water from tankers where operationally or legally required; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(5))

45.1.7.6 New development or expansion of marine petroleum transfer facilities will not increase the risk of an oil spill to Humboldt Bay; (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(6))

The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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45.1.7.7 Where expansion of existing marine petroleum transfer facilities or construction of new facilities may result in an increased risk of spill associated with the expanded facility, such risk will be mitigated through alteration of existing operations. (Former Section CZ#A314-5(G)(7))