12922 SW Bachelor, Vashon, WA 98070

Rural Area Zone

The purpose of the rural zone (RA) is to provide for an area-wide long-term rural character and to minimize land use conflicts with nearby agricultural or forest production districts or mineral extraction sites. These purposes are accomplished by: Limiting residential densities and permitted uses to those that are compatible with rural character and nearby resource production districts and sites and are able to be adequately supported by rural service levels; Allowing small scale farming and forestry activities and tourism and recreation uses that can be supported by rural service levels and that are compatible with rural character; Increasing required setbacks to minimize conflicts with adjacent agriculture, forest or mineral zones; and Requiring tracts created through cluster development to be designated as permanent open space or as permanent resource use.; Use of this zone is appropriate in rural areas designated by the Comprehensive Plan as follows: RA-2.5 in rural areas where the predominant lot pattern is below five acres in size for lots established prior to the adoption of the 1994 Comprehensive Plan.