“With skyscrapers and crowded highways only a few miles away, farmers and rural businesses face many challenges to maintaining their economic viability without sacrificing their way of life,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, chair of the Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee. “These changes give rural property owners the tools to maintain that delicate balance and meet their economic future.”

The Council approved the implementation of recommendations from the Rural Economic Strategies Report to remove barriers faced by rural businesses and enhance opportunities for home-based businesses. The report was developed in 2005 by the King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development (BRED) with assistance from rural Unincorporated Area Councils (UACs) and the rural chambers of commerce.

Among the changes implemented by the Council:

• Streamlined the process for establishing retail nurseries in the rural area. Rather than requiring a conditional use permit, commercial retail nurseries with a retail sales area up to 3,500 square feet are now permitted outright.

• Made it easier to sell agricultural products on site. Rural property owners can now be permitted to devote up to 3,500 square feet of floor space to selling agricultural products on site.

• Made it easier to process agricultural products on site. Rural property owners can now be permitted to devote up to 3,500 square feet of floor space —and up to 7,000 square feet on larger properties—to process agricultural products on site.

• Increased flexibility for farm worker housing. The Council increased the number of farm worker housing units allowed on farms and eliminated the requirement that the farmer live on the farm.

• Made it possible to establish animal specialty service businesses in the rural areas. Rural property owners now have a process to establish animal services such as dog daycares and animal shelters as stand-alone businesses.

• Increased flexibility for forestry thinning. The Council relaxed regulations on thinning forests within aquatic areas, wetlands, steep slopes and wildlife areas.

“The Growth Management Act has protected farmlands from being lost to development, but helping rural property owners make a living in our rapidly changing economy requires constant vigilance,” said Phillips. “I thank all the stakeholders who helped us better understand their needs, and I look forward to seeing these tools applied to increase the economic vitality of the rural area.”

During its November 19 meeting, the Council also extended the waiver of application fees for property owners applying for a public benefit rating system (PBRS) tax benefit. The PBRS has resulted in protection of more than 7,000 acres by offering tax benefits to property owners who voluntarily make a long-term commitment to keep their land as open space, farmland, or timberland.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system. Type in “2006-0407” and “2007-0535”