Skagit Regional TDR Project AN INTRODUCTION TO TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

What is TDR? Transfer of Development Rights A market-based mechanism that enables voluntary transfers of growth from designated sending areas to designated receiving areas

Why Consider TDR Now in Skagit ? Envision Skagit Citizen Committee recommendation Ongoing Commissioner interest Growing number of TDR programs regionally to learn from

Dwellings 1900

Dwellings 1950

Dwellings 2010

2060 build-out projection – current policies

County’s population projected to increase 100,000 by 2060

Skagit TDR Grant From Washington State Department of Commerce Competitively awarded Funding source: National Estuary Program, Puget Sound Watershed Protection and Restoration Grant

Puget Sound, clean water and TDR?  Protecting working farm and forest lands  Protecting floodplain and other sensitive areas  Encouraging growth in existing cities  Implementing improved stormwater solutions Key drivers of watershed health include:

TDR Advisory Committee 15 members  Various sectors potentially involved in TDR transactions  Two at-large members: Skagit residents, urban or rural  Will provides policy and technical input, assist with public outreach

Local partners in submitting grant : Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland Skagit Island Counties Builders Association Skagit Land Trust City of Burlington

TDR Staff, Consultant & Advisor Team Kirk Johnson - project manager Linda Christensen: grant administration Mark Personius – planning consultant Taylor Carroll, Forterra: TDR technical advisor Heather Ballash, Washington State Regional TDR Program manager Economic consultant: to be selected

Key Questions to Consider Is market demand strong enough to drive a TDR program? In the current economy Once the economy improves

Key Questions Are the cities willing to serve as receiving areas? What’s in it for them?

Key Questions Can TDR complement, and not harm, existing conservation programs including Farmland Legacy?

Project Timeframe Now through end of 2013  Study and analysis of TDR potential in Skagit County BCC to make threshold decision by end of 2013  Move forward with TDR program, or not? If “Yes,” legislative consideration of TDR program would occur in 2014

Project Phases Phase 1: Consider Skagit TDR Program Phase 2: Burlington Commercial Redevelopment Analysis And Burlington’s potential as TDR receiving area

Phase 1 Tasks: TDR 1. Public outreach: Ongoing 2. Study existing TDR programs and Skagit County goals 3. Identify potential sending and receiving areas

Phase 1 Tasks, continued 4. TDR Market analysis 5. Consider TDR structure 6. Draft TDR program and consider adoption

Phase 2 Tasks City of Burlington: 1. Explore Commercial Core redevelopment opportunities 2. Consider LID stormwater and open space planning options

Other potential TDR applications  Future Industrial lands  Areas with piped water  Bayview Ridge UGA  Rural Villages Other sending areas: Other receiving areas:

TDR concept at work in Skagit County! Burlington Agricultural Heritage Density Credit Program  Sale of density credits funds Farmland Legacy Ag-NRL purchases