18S.40.030 Agriculture.
The intent of the Agriculture policies and regulations is to maintain the economic viability of agriculture and to protect ongoing agricultural activities and agricultural lands from conflicting development, such as intensive or unrelated residential, industrial, or commercial uses. Common activities associated with agriculture include the construction of a barn or similar agricultural structure, and the construction and maintenance of irrigation structures. For agricultural sales and services, see PCC 18S.40.050, Commercial, Civic and Industrial.
A. Applicability. This Section applies to the following agricultural activities:
1. New agricultural activities on those specific land areas not previously used for agricultural purposes as of the effective date of this Title;
2. Land converted to agricultural use; and
3. Replacement agricultural facilities located closer to the water's edge than the original facility.
4. This Section shall not apply to:
a. Agricultural uses and practices conducted as of the effective date of this Title, as evidenced by aerial photography or other documentation. Agricultural uses and practices include, but are not limited to: producing, breeding, or increasing agricultural products; rotating and changing agricultural crops; allowing land used for agricultural activities to lie fallow in which it is plowed and tilled but left unseeded; allowing land used for agricultural activities to lie dormant as a result of adverse agricultural market conditions; allowing land used for agricultural activities to lie dormant because the land is enrolled in a local, state, or federal conservation program, or the land is subject to a conservation easement; conducting agricultural operations; maintaining, repairing, and replacing agricultural equipment; maintaining, repairing, and replacing agricultural facilities, provided that the replacement facility is no closer to the shoreline than the original facility; and maintaining agricultural lands under production or cultivation on agricultural lands which are those specific land areas on which agriculture activities are conducted.
b. Forest practice activities regulated under Chapter 76.09 RCW and WAC Title 222.
B. Policies.
1. Give priority to agricultural activities that present a lower risk of environmental impacts than those that present a higher risk of environmental impacts.
2. Encourage the preservation of existing and potential agricultural and open space land through comprehensive land use planning.
3. Prohibit agricultural practices that would result in violations of State water quality standards.
4. Utilize best management practices and coordinate with the Pierce Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or other agency acceptable to the County.
5. Encourage the establishment and protection of vegetated buffers for existing agricultural activities.
6. Encourage cooperative arrangements between agricultural operators and public recreation agencies to develop opportunities for public use of shorelines.
7. Ensure that ongoing agricultural activities occurring on agricultural lands are not limited or impacted by new development.
C. Regulations.
1. Conversion of agricultural lands to other uses shall be subject to the applicable development regulations of the proposed use and consistent with the Shoreline Environment Designation (SED).
2. Outdoor areas where livestock are primarily sustained by imported feed shall not be allowed within shorelines.
3. Livestock flood sanctuary areas may be allowed subject to the provisions of PCC 18E.70.040, Flood Hazard Area Standards.
4. Manure stockpiling and the storage of agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and similar hazardous materials may be permitted where it can be demonstrated that no other on-site storage alternative outside the shoreline exists and the applicant demonstrates that on-site storage procedures will prevent the release of such materials.
5. Intentional discharge of any manure storage facility into ground or surface water is prohibited.
6. Stock watering facilities shall be provided so that livestock do not need to access streams or lakes for drinking water.
7. A farm management plan shall be provided for agricultural activities that include any one of the following, pursuant to Chapter 18S.70 PCC – Appendix B:
a. Agriculture proposed within a habitat area, species point location, or any associated buffer identified pursuant to Title 18E PCC;
b. Crop production using chemical weed and pest control, high-yield single crop species, annual tilling, regular soil fertilization rotation, conservation tillage, and drip irrigation;
c. Alteration of the contour of the shorelands by leveling or filling other than that which results from normal crop cultivation; or
d. Livestock rearing greater than 1,000 pounds of animal per acre of managed pasture, feedlots of any size, and processing plants.