Article 4 — Chapter 17.50

COMMERCIAL GROWING AND HARVESTING OF TIMBER

Sections:

17.50.010 Purpose. 17.50.020 Applicability. 17.50.030 Permit Required. 17.50.040 Development and Operational Standards. 17.50.050 Valley Oak and Aspen species.

17.50.010 Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish standards for the location, site planning, development, and operations of certain land uses that are allowed by Article 2, Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses, within individual or multiple districts, and for activities that require special standards to minimize the impacts of these uses and activities on surrounding properties and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their occupants and of the general public. The regulations set forth in this Chapter shall modify or supplement the zoning district regulations appearing elsewhere in this title relating to commercial growing and harvesting of timber.

17.50.020 Applicability. The commercial growing of timber is a permitted use in all districts, except O and O-1.

17.50.030 Permit Required. All commercial growing and harvesting of timber shall be subject to approval of the specified permit as detailed in the use tables in Article 2.

17.50.040 Development and Operational Standards. The commercial harvesting of timber shall be permitted as follows:

A. Commercial harvesting of timber encompassing more than three (3) acres is a permitted use provided it is in conformance with the California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations).

B. Commercial harvesting of timber encompassing fewer than three (3) acres is a permitted use provided it is in conformance

with the California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations) and all of the following criteria are met:

The harvesting of timber shall not occur within 100' of a cultural resource site boundary unless a cultural resource protection plan has been approved by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) or a cultural resource protection plan has been approved by the Director. The cultural resource protection plan shall identify any significant archeological or historical sites and any means to protect those sites during timber harvesting. Avoidance of the site is an example of an appropriate protection measure. If the significance of a cultural resource site is unknown, it shall be deemed to be significant and shall be protected from significant disturbance.

The harvesting of timber shall not occur within riparian or wetland areas, as defined in the Tuolumne County General Plan, as follows unless mitigation measures for potential impacts to the riparian or wetland areas have been identified in a Timber

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Harvesting Plan or other plan approved by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) or the timber harvesting has been authorized by an approved County entitlement. Mechanical equipment, such as trucks and bulldozers, shall be prohibited for the harvesting of any timber within the areas listed below. The following setbacks may be reduced by the director if vegetation removal within these areas is necessary for reasons of health and/or safety or is consistent with the Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone requirements of the California Forest Practice Rules listed in Table 17.50.1:

TABLE 17.50.1 WATERCOURSE AND LAKE PROTECTION ZONE – CALIFORNIA FOREST PRACTICE RULES

C. Allow flexibility in the above regulations so that the overall density of a proposed development project can be concentrated in the portion of the parcel furthest from the timberland boundary. This will limit the development of new nontimberland uses on land immediately adjacent to commercial timberlands.

17.50.050 Valley Oak and Aspen species. Harvesting of Valley Oak and Aspen species and commercial harvesting of old growth coniferous forest as identified on the Tuolumne County Wildlife Habitat Maps, encompassing fewer than three (3) acres shall be prohibited in all zoning districts unless approved in conjunction with an entitlement from the County or approved by the director if vegetation removal is necessary for reasons of health and/or safety and provided any commercial harvesting is in conformance with the California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations).

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