Page 8 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County
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CHAPTER 1: KEY FINDINGS
Regulatory Framework
A regulatory framework intended primarily to Of Note:
sustain farm and forest lands protects Oregon’s In part, Chapter 4 recommends that the county
rural areas. Washington County implements consider the following:
state protections by assigning nine different land • Implement SB 960 for EFU and AF-20 lands,
use districts to areas outside the urban growth via an approach that minimizes both impacts
boundary. The County's Community Development and undue restrictions.
Code (CDC) prescribes differing use types and
intensities for each, applying the most stringent • Use SB 960 as a template for rural tourism
farmland protections to the EFU (Exclusive Farm expansion in other districts, especially to
Use) and AF-20 (Agriculture and Forest – 80 Acre) reduce displacement of farmland.
districts. • Produce educational materials on rural
tourism uses that the CDC can already allow,
Senate Bill (SB) 960, adopted in 2011, allows certain such as: room and board/B&Bs for up to
agricultural tourism operations on EFU/AF-20 lands five guests (EFU, AF-20, AF-5 and 10, RR-5);
in counties that adopt it, subject to restrictions. campgrounds (EFU, AF-20, AF-5 and 10, EFC);
County adoption of SB 960’s provisions is optional, outdoor performing arts centers (AF-5 and
and counties are allowed some discretion as to 10); special recreation uses (RR-5, R-COM,
how restrictive or permissive to be with certain R-IND); recreation facilities, eating and drinking
parameters of the bill. establishments, and open-air businesses
(R-COM); wineries/tasting rooms (EFU, AF-20,
Significant opportunities exist to expand the suite AF-5 and 10, RR-5, R-COM, R-IND, MAE); farm
of uses allowed within Washington County’s CDC, stands (EFU, AF-20); and more.
not only by selectively incorporating provisions of
SB 960 and related legislation, but also by clarifying • Support amendments to state regulations
existing CDC allowances that relate to rural tourism to allow overnight stays for more than five
and assessing how these might be amended to guests and up to nine rooms in the EFU/AF-
further accommodate it. 20 districts; or for limits based on number of
rooms alone, not guests. Additionally, support
For more complete information, see Chapter 4 of this the same allowances on protected forest
report, Rural Tourism Regulatory Framework. Table lands (EFC) and amend the CDC to allow small
4.3 of that chapter further details opportunities/ inns on Rural Commercial (R-COM) sites.
recommendations by land use district. • Provide printed and web guidance, and a staff
expert/navigator to assist applicants, and
make new or revised County regulations clear
and concise to ensure consistent treatment of
applications.
4 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY
