SECTIONS 51100-51104 - California Statutes

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.