Opinion ID: 2516430
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: there is a transfer of uses between a property purchased consistent with subsection A and other properties within the same APD.

Text: Under the limited circumstances in which active recreational facilities are allowed in the APD, activities and site improvements shall be limited in order to allow the future use of the property for agricultural purposes when the recreational use is abandoned. ((When new parks or trails are planned for areas within or adjacent to Agricultural Production Districts, King County should work with farmers to minimize impacts, to farmland and agricultural operations.)) Specifically, the amendment allows properties within APDs, which were purchased prior to APD designation with Forward Thrust or Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) funds, to be developed for active recreational facilities. [4] Such properties can also transfer their active recreational use to any other parcels within the same APD. The Hmong property, located in the Sammamish Valley APD, was among those identified as being purchased with Forward Thrust/IAC funds. [5] The Kaplan, Zante, Brown, Murray, Murray, and Moore properties are also affected because the amendments transfer the recreational use from the Hmong property to these properties. The amendments do not limit the number of acres of agricultural land that can be converted to recreational use by receiving a transfer of such use from the Hmong property. [6] Zoning Code Amendment The County's amendment to its zoning code (development regulations), with new language underlined, reads as follows: K.C.C. 21A.08.040.B.1 d. Facilities in the F [Forest], A [Agriculture], or M [Mineral] zones, or in a designated Rural Farm or Forest District, shall be limited to trails and trail-heads and active recreation facilities, including related accessory uses such as parking and sanitary facilities. Active recreation facilities shall be limited to those properties within the Agricultural Production District (APD) that are acquired prior to designation of the APD, using voter-approved recreation funds, state funds mandated for recreation, or King County Board of Recreation funds. Active recreation uses allowed on parcels as noted above m[a]y be transferred to other parcels within the same APD. However, active recreation from lands outside of the APD shall not be relocated to any parcel within an APD. Where such facilities are permitted within an APD, the following deed restrictions will be applied: (1) Active recreation uses shall be designed in a manner that visually screens adjacent agricultural uses from park users and that restricts physical trespass onto adjacent Agricultural Production District properties; (2) Buildings associated with recreational uses shall be limited to restroom facilities, picnic shelters and storage/maintenance facilities for equipment used onsite; (3) No use that permanently compacts, removes, sterilizes, pollutes or otherwise materially impairs the future use of the soil for raising agricultural crops shall be allowed; (4) Any soil surfaces temporarily disturbed through construction activities shall be restored in a manner consistent with agricultural uses, including restoration of the original soil horizon sequence, as soon as practical following such disruptions; (5) Access to recreational uses shall be designed to minimize impact on the surrounding Agricultural Production District and should be limited to direct access along District boundaries whenever feasible; and (6) Although the recreational use of Agricultural Production District properties may be long term, such use shall be recognized as an interim use of the Production District's prime agricultural soils. As such, any acquisition funding or policy restrictions for the recreational use of the property shall be viewed as subordinate to the County's prior commitment to the preservation of prime agricultural soils and the viability of local agricultural production. Whenever the County declares through action of the King County Council a critical shortage of agricultural soils to accommodate an active soil-dependent agricultural proposal, the County shall initiate a process to relocate any recreational uses off the subject property, and to make the property available for re-establishment of agricultural activities. This amendment allows active recreational facilities within APDs. The amendment details the specific conditions under which such facilities must be constructed and operated, including visual screening between recreational facilities and adjacent agricultural uses, limitations on buildings, and limitations designed to preserve the soil for future agricultural use. The amendment recognizes that active recreational use within the APDs is interim and subordinate to the County's prior commitment to the preservation of prime agricultural soils and the viability of local agricultural production. Under the amendment, if the County declares a critical shortage of land to accommodate an active soil-dependent agricultural proposal, it must initiate a process to remove recreational uses from the needed property.