§ 17.94.070. Temporary construction—Public works.

A.

Permit Required. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, temporary construction activities for public works and public utility projects may be permitted in any zone district if an administrative permit is first obtained as provided in this section.

B.

Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following words and terms have the meaning and usage indicated:

1.

"Temporary construction activities" means the temporary use of land for rock crushing, batch plants, dredging, contractor's yards, materials stockpiles, caretaker's quarters and other activities related to the construction, repair or replacement of public works or public utilities.

2.

"Emergency" means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the county, including but not limited to such conditions as fire, flood, storm, epidemic, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, or an earthquake.

C.

Procedure. Subject to the findings required by subsection D of this section and the limitations imposed by subsection E of this section, the provisions of Section 17.92.050, governing the issuance of administrative permits under this division, apply to permits issued pursuant to this section.

D.

Findings Required. No permit shall be issued pursuant to this section unless the director of resource management finds that:

1.

An emergency exists, as defined in subsection B of this section; or

2.

The public works or public utility project is necessary for public health, safety or convenience and that no land properly zoned and physically suitable for the proposed construction activities is located within a reasonable distance of the project or the nature of the project requires the construction activities to occur at or near the project site.

E.

Limitations.

1.

No permit shall be issued pursuant to this section if the director of resource management finds that the proposed construction activities can be reasonably accommodated at the project site on land owned, leased or possessed by the public agency or public utility proposing or engaged in the project.

2.

No permit shall be issued pursuant to this section unless conditions are imposed upon the permit, including but not limited to the deposit of adequate security to insure that each site at which the temporary construction activities occurs will be returned, as reasonably as possible, to natural conditions as they existed at the site prior to commencement of the construction activities.

3.

Every permit issued pursuant to this section expires one year after the date of its approval or at such earlier time as the director of resource management may determine at the time of approval. However, second and subsequent permits may be issued for the same construction activities if the director of resource management makes a finding, in addition to those findings required for the issuance of the first permit, that the nature of the project requiring the temporary construction activites precludes completion of the project within the life of the permit or that circumstances beyond the control of the public agency or public utility engaged in the project have prevented completion of the project within the life of the permit.

(Ord. 494-341 § 2, 1989)