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.

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(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.

(Added by renumbering Section 51100 by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1489, Sec. 1.)