18H.20.040 Class I Forest Practices.
A. Class I forest practices that result in the cutting and/or removal of less than 5,000 board feet of timber for personal use (e.g., firewood, fence posts, etc.) in any 12-month period, the culture and harvest of Christmas trees and seedlings, and/or emergency fire control or suppression shall not be required to obtain any forest practices approval from Pierce County. Although a forest practices approval is not required, the following requirements shall be met:
1. Class I forest practices proposed within a wetland, stream, landslide hazard area, erosion hazard area, fish and wildlife area, or other critical area and associated buffer regulated pursuant to Title 18E PCC, Development Regulations – Critical Areas, shall comply with all applicable requirements of that Title.
2. Class I forest practices proposed within other open space areas or buffers, including but not limited to natural buffer areas, screening buffers, and tree conservation areas established pursuant to any other permit, approval, or regulation, shall comply with the following standards:
a. Written authorization from the Planning and Public Works Department shall be required prior to the removal of trees except as provided by PCC 18H.20.040 A.2.e.
b. Tree cutting shall be authorized only when:
(1) It is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning and Public Works Department that a hazard exists to public health or safety, the safety of private or public property, or the health of surrounding trees. In these cases, the landowner shall be required to submit a report and replanting plan from a registered landscape architect, certified arborist, professional forester or other expert approved by Pierce County that document the hazard, the specific actions that must occur to abate the threat, and the schedule for replanting; or
(2) The permit or approval that established the open space or buffer area expressly authorizes the proposed tree cutting.
c. Tree cutting shall be limited to limbing and crown thinning, unless otherwise justified by the landowner's expert.
d. The landowner shall replace any trees that are felled or removed with new trees at a ratio of two replacement trees for each tree felled, topped or removed. Replacement trees shall meet the standards set forth in PCC 18J.15.030.
e. Diseased, Danger, and/or Hazard trees determined to pose an imminent threat or danger to public health or safety, or to public or private property, or serious environmental degradation may be removed or limbed by the landowner prior to receiving written approval from Pierce County; provided that within 14 days following such action, the landowner shall submit the necessary report and replanting schedule demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this Section.
3. The forest practices shall comply with all applicable requirements of Pierce County Code, including but not limited to Title 17A PCC, Construction and Infrastructure Regulations – Site Development and Stormwater Drainage, Title 18E PCC, Development Regulations – Critical Areas, Title 18J PCC, Development Regulations – Design Standards and Guidelines, and Title 20 PCC, Shoreline Management Use Regulations.
B. Any forest practice within the Urban Growth Area resulting in the cutting and/or removal of more than 5,000 board feet of merchantable timber shall be processed as a Class IV-General forest practice pursuant to RCW 76.09.050(1), including those that meet the criteria for Class I forest practices pursuant to WAC 222-16-050(3), e.g., forest practices involving a single landowner where contiguous ownership is less than 2 acres in size. All such forest practices shall comply with the requirements and approval criteria for Class IV-General forest practices set forth in PCC 18H.20.030, except that those meeting the criteria for Class I forest practices pursuant to WAC 222-16-050(3) shall not be subject to environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (Chapter 43.21C RCW).