Cascade Land Conservancy is actively involved in the design and implementation of TDR programs at the regional, county, and city level.  Examples of our current work include:

The creation of the Regional Transfer of Development Rights Program (RCW 43.362) in May of  2009 was an important step in advancing use of TDR in Washington State.  Following passage of this legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded a grant of $567,000 to a partnership of public agencies and private organizations to implement the regional marketplace.  As a member of this partnership, CLC began work in October of 2009 to bring the marketplace into operation through outreach and collaboration with local governments across the region.  Examples of CLC's work leading up to the creation of the regional TDR program are available here.

The Conservancy partnered with Pierce County to create a program that helps protect the county’s farms and forest land.  The county adopted its TDR program in 2007 and is in the process of implementation.  Cascade Land Conservancy was involved with the program's first two transactions, protecting a total of 89 acres of family-owned forested land in June, 2009.

Kittitas County hired CLC to develop a TDR program that would conserve farm, forest, and ranch land and create innovative solutions to accommodating the county’s rapid growth.  In early 2010, the County Commissioners voted to adopt the program.  The Conservancy continues to work with the county as it moves forward with implementing the program.

The City of Tacoma is pursuing the design of a city-wide TDR program that would complement its recent Mixed-Use Centers update.  CLC is working with the city to help create a program that reflects local real estate conditions to ensure market demand for TDR credits and encourages development within the city.

The City of Sammamish partnered with the Conservancy to create a TDR program in conjunction with its new Town Center development.  The TDR program will protect open space while providing residential and commercial incentives to encourage growth in the new urban center. 

The City of Snohomish and CLC are working together to design a TDR program for the city that will help achieve redevelopment goals while protecting farm and forest land in Snohomish County.  The city is currently conducting a planning review to evaluate design alternatives for a downtown neighborhood that would be revitalized using development rights transferred from the county.

Photo by Tim Engstrom.