51100-51104
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 51100-51104
51100. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Timberland Productivity Act of 1982. 51101. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) The forest resources and timberlands of this state, together with the forest products industry, contribute substantially to the health and stability of the state's economy and environment by providing high quality timber, employment opportunities, regional economic vitality, resource protection, and aesthetic enjoyment. (b) The state's increasing population threatens to erode the timberland base and diminish forest resource productivity through pressures to divert timberland to urban and other uses and through pressures to restrict or prohibit timber operations when viewed as being in conflict with nontimberland uses. (c) A continued and predictable commitment of timberland, and of investment capital, for the growing and harvesting of timber are necessary to ensure the long-term productivity of the forest resource, the long-term economic viability of the forest products industry, and long-term stability of local resource-based economies. 51102. (a) The Legislature further declares that to fully realize the productive potential of the forest resources and timberlands of the state, and to provide a favorable climate for long-term investment in forest resources, it is the policy of this state to do all of the following: (1) Maintain the optimum amount of the limited supply of timberland to ensure its current and continued availability for the growing and harvesting of timber and compatible uses. (2) Discourage premature or unnecessary conversion of timberland to urban and other uses. (3) Discourage expansion of urban services into timberland. (4) Encourage investment in timberlands based on reasonable expectation of harvest. (b) The Legislature further declares that it is the policy of this state that timber operations conducted in a manner consistent with forest practice rules adopted by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection shall not be or become restricted or prohibited due to any land use in or around the locality of those operations. 51103. It is the intent of the Legislature to implement the policies of this chapter by including all qualifying timberland in timberland production zones. 51104. As used in this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context: (a) "Board" means the board of supervisors of a county or city and county, whether general law or chartered, which establishes or proposes to establish a timberland production zone pursuant to this chapter. (b) "Contiguous" means two or more parcels of land that are adjoining or neighboring or are sufficiently near to each other, as determined by the board or council, that they are manageable as a single forest unit. (c) "Council" means the city council of a city, whether general law or chartered, which establishes or proposes to establish a timberland production zone pursuant to this chapter. (d) "County" or "city" means the county or city having jurisdiction over the land. (e) "Timber" means trees of any species maintained for eventual harvest for forest products purposes, whether planted or of natural growth, standing or down, on privately or publicly owned land, including Christmas trees, but does not mean nursery stock. (f) "Timberland" means privately owned land, or land acquired for state forest purposes, which is devoted to and used for growing and harvesting timber, or for growing and harvesting timber and compatible uses, and which is capable of growing an average annual volume of wood fiber of at least 15 cubic feet per acre. (g) "Timberland production zone" or "TPZ" means an area which has been zoned pursuant to Section 51112 or 51113 and is devoted to and used for growing and harvesting timber, or for growing and harvesting timber and compatible uses, as defined in subdivision (h). With respect to the general plans of cities and counties, "timberland preserve zone" means "timberland production zone." (h) "Compatible use" is any use which does not significantly detract from the use of the property for, or inhibit, growing and harvesting timber, and shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following, unless in a specific instance such a use would be contrary to the preceding definition of compatible use: (1) Management for watershed. (2) Management for fish and wildlife habitat or hunting and fishing. (3) A use integrally related to the growing, harvesting and processing of forest products, including but not limited to roads, log landings, and log storage areas. (4) The erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance of gas, electric, water, or communication transmission facilities. (5) Grazing. (6) A residence or other structure necessary for the management of land zoned as timberland production. (i) "Parcel" means that portion of an assessor's parcel that is timberland, as defined. (j) "Anniversary date" means the anniversary of the date on which zoning is established pursuant to Section 51112 or 51113 takes effect. (k) "Tax rate area" means a geographical area in which there is a unique combination of tax levies. (l) "Nonconforming use" means any use within a TPZ which lawfully existed on the effective date of zoning established pursuant to Sections 51112 and 51113, and continuing since that time, which is not a compatible use.