Green Crow Properties Inc. and a Joyce-area couple are seeking a rezone of 195 acres of commercial forest land east of Zacardo Road south of Blyn to allow residential development while better protecting timberland.

The 195 acres consists of eight parcels: three owned by the Green Crow Corp. that total 71.8 acres, four owned by Green Crow Timber totaling 103.6 acres, and one of 19.25 acres owned by Richard and Sharron Larsen of Joyce.

Green Crow seeks to rezone its seven parcels from "commercial forest" to "commercial forest-mixed residential use 20."

The Larsens want to rezone their parcel from "rural very low" to "commercial forest-mixed residential use 20."

The Clallam County Planning Commission held an Aug. 19 public hearing on the request and has scheduled a work session to make a recommendation to the Clallam County commissioners.

The work session is set for 6 p.m. today, Sept. 2, in the commissioners meeting room in the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

Then the commissioners will hold a public hearing on the rezone request.

Green Crow project manager Bruce Emery said the proposed configuration would provide the same lot value for property owners along with better views and would reserve 70 percent of the property as commercial forest.

"Our objective is to create nine 5-acre lots. The current array is eight lots of 20 to 30 acres.

"So it would be increasing the density by one lot and consolidate the residential development on 30 percent of the property," he said.

Ensuring 70 percent of the property stays as forest reserve is better than 20-acre lots developed piecemeal, he said.

A residential property owner with a 20-acre lot versus one of five acres is less likely to properly manage the forest, Emery said.

"Clustering is an option; it reserves large tracts. (The requested rezoning) encourages forest management."

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.