ZCCPAR25-001 HO Recommendation - Laserfiche WebLink

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Under the provisions of OAR 660-006-0050, a governing body may establish agricultural/forest zones in accordance with both Goals 3 and 4 and consistent with OAR Chapter 660, Divisions 6 and 33. The mixed nature of the farm and forest uses in this area justifies the application of an agricultural/forest zone and both Goals 3 and 4. The FarrWTimber designation is discussed in the Forest Lands section of the Marion County Comprehensive Plan and policies pertaining to this designation are also included in the forest land goal and policies section. The Farm and Timber designation has been applied to lands in Marion County that support a mixture of both agricultural and forestry activities. Designated areas were characterized by wide varieties in terrain, soil types and land use conditions. These areas are located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and are characterized by steep canyons, broad ridge tops and narrow alluvial river terraces. Soil types vary considerably in agricultural productivity from Class 11 to VI agricultural capability. The area is predominantly Class 2 and 3 timber soils which make a majority of the area highly productive forest land. Whenever the terrain is not too steep and the soils have agricultural capability, the land is typically in farm use. Otherwise, the land is managed as woodland. As a result of the mixed terrain and soils, this area consists of a very mixed pattern offarm and forest uses frequently including both uses on a single tract. Therefore, both the agricultural lands and forest lands goals are applied, as authorized by OAR 660-006-005 0. The variable terrain and crop capabilities have contributed to the existing land use pattern that is a transition area between the predominately large-scale farms on the low land to the west and the large-scale commercial timber operations on the higher elevations to the east. The most common management units in the FT areas range from 20 to 40 acres. Ownership fragmentation and the alternating farm and timber character make it unlikely that these smaller farm and timber tracts will be consolidated to achieve larger management units. A minimum parcel size of 80 acres is applied to the Farm/Timber land in Marion County. This minimum was chosen because it is consistent with the existing parcel sizes in this area being managed for timber and agriculture production on a commercial basis. Also, this parcel size is consistent with both OAR 660-06-0026 and 660-33-100, and it exceeds the recommendations of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife for the protection of significant deer and elk habitats. This area is primarily located within the peripheral deer and elk habitat as identified by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. With development limited to such low densities, the watershed, open space and other resource values found on forest lands will be protected There are 15,000+ Farm/"Limber designated acres in Marion County (MCCP, page I-14), most of it in the Silverton Hills, coexistent with the peripheral big game habitat area. In ZC/CP 15-001, ZC/CP 11-002 and ZC/CP 03-5, the BOC recognized that land outside the Silverton Hills area may qualify for Farm/Timber designation if it has sufficient Farm/Timber characteristics. The Farm/Timber area is described as an area of stream canyons and broad ridge tops. This description fits the subject property, but in miniature. ZC / CP / AR 25-001 — RECOMMENDATION Jerome P. Lackner Page 5