1. Transfer of development rights
The Lee County Experience
Transfer of development rights

2. Topics for discussion Introduction to TDR Concept
In the Beginning, 1980’s
Coastal Rural and TDR’s
Southeast Lee County Program
The Evaluation and Appraisal Report
What’s Next

3. The tdr concept

4. The concept The right to…. Exclude others Sell or translate title
A Bundle of divisible rights
The right to….
Exclude others
Sell or translate title
Divide land
Grant easements
Rent or lease
Develop in accordance with local regulations
The concept

5. Typical Benefits of a TDR Program
Land that is important to the health of the local environment and the well-being of County citizens is protected.
Development growth is focused into urban areas and away from critical rural and resource areas.

6. SUCCESSFUL CRITERIA:
The TDR program must be stable and easy to use, with good market information about TDR values and transactions
Developing at higher densities with TDR must be more profitable than developing at lower densities without TDR.
Purchase of TDR must be more attractive than obtaining additional density any other way (i.e. affordable housing, green building, or cluster density bonuses, comprehensive plan amendments).

7. Establish a Regulatory program
The TDR program allows the separated rights to be turned into a tradable commodity that can be bought and sold.
When a landowner chooses to separate some, or all, development rights, the property is preserved through a conservation or agricultural easement.

8. Early wetland protection program

9. LDC. Section 2-141: Establish the procedures for creating TDR’s
Sending Areas
Applies to all wetlands in unincorporated areas
Receiving Areas
Three methods to achieve additional density
By right
Administrative for certain existing zoning categories
Board action for new Planned Development

10. Lee County TDR Program – Sending Areas
St. Charles Harbor
North Captiva, Fred Board
St. James City Platted Area
Total TDR Units Created:
900 to 1,000 Units

11. Lee County TDR Program - Receiving Areas
Urban Future Land Use Categories
Intensive Development
Central Urban
Urban Community
Downtown Lehigh Acres
Sample Receiving Projects
Stonegate 88 TDR Units
Downtown Estero 104 TDR Units
Pennington Park 14 TDR Units

12. Pine island and coastal rural

13. Coastal rural
Lower density from 1 unit per acre to 1 unit per 10 acres
Utilize TDR’s to compensate for loss of development

14. Southeast lee county program

15. The purposes:
Recognize there is land that warrants protection in its current agricultural use or natural conditions.
Offer an incentive-based alternative to development of land to be transferred to other areas that are suitable for compact development.
Provide fair and predictable standards for creating, transferring, and redeeming transferable development rights.
Direct future growth to areas on or nearer to public services and facilities.

16. New sending areas Prioritize Restoration Areas as Tier 1 through7
Afford additional density by tier
Afford additional density for conservation, restoration and agricultural easements

17. Developed new receiving areas

18. mixed-Use Communities
TDR’s from the DR/GR may be transferred to established Mixed Use Communities

19. New opportunities

20. Evaluation and Appraisal report
Utilize TDR’s to:
Foster higher density development
Focus on infill and redevelopment
Keep rural areas rural

21. Questions