Background

With an abundance of natural beauty and important resource industries, Kittitas is one of the most picturesque and productive counties in Washington.  Over the years, these characteristics have helped to define the county, establish an economy, and support a lifestyle appreciated by locals and visitors alike. 

Testimony to its attractiveness, the county has experienced dramatic growth in recent years, particularly in its rural areas.  Although economic and population growth can bring a variety of benefits to the county, it can also bring challenges to the county's rural economy and its lifestyle through the conversion of working lands to housing and development.  Looking to the future, this growth is expected to continue, adding land conversion pressures that affect resource-based industries.

As a voluntary, market-based tool, transfer of development rights (TDR) creates new options for landowners while supporting a growing population.  Success for the program is a situation in which future growth is responsibly planned, property rights are protected, and rural landowners are fairly compensated for keeping their land viable for production.

Press & Alerts

ALERT: Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendments and revisions to Kittitas County Code regarding TDR available for viewing here (November 19, 2009)

ARTICLE: "County TDR program will undergo more scrutiny"
by Mike Johnston, the Daily Record (May 23, 2009)

ARTICLE: "Transfer of development rights a first in Kittitas County"
The Daily Record (May 19, 2009)

ARTICLE: "Tuesday hearing eyes local rights transfer program" (.pdf)
by Mike Johnston, the Daily Record (May 18, 2009)

PRESS RELEASE: "First use of Transfer of Development Rights in Kittitas County results in significant forest conservation" (.pdf)

by Cascade Land Conservancy (May 15, 2009)

As part of a TDR demonstration project, Cascade Land Conservancy purchased the development rights to 480 acres of forestland from Parker Ranch in the Manastash region.

ALERT:

Board of Commissioners to Hear Proposed TDR Program May 19, 2009

The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners announced it will conduct a public hearing for the proposed transfer of development rights program on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 at the Commissioners Auditorium at the Kittitas County Courthouse in Ellensburg.

Further details are available here (.pdf).

ARTICLE: "County farmland TDR program proposed" (.pdf)
by Mike Johnston, the Daily Record (September 16, 2008)

ALERT:

Board of County Commissioners Votes to Initiate a Public Process to Discuss TDR

The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on August 25, 2008 to move the proposed TDR program into a public process. 

In a subsequent Community Development Services email alert, Director Darryl Piercy wrote:

Hello to all,

Below you will find the link to the final report and recommendations  from our working partnership with the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) regarding the Transfer of Development Rights.  We are seeking your review and comments.   We anticipate conducting public hearings with the Planning Commission in early fall of 2008 leading to review and public hearings by Board of County Commissioners later this year.   We will keep you informed of upcoming meetings where your thoughts can be heard.   In the meantime, any feedback by way of email or written correspondence regarding this document is appreciated.

In addition to the upcoming, formal review and comment period, Kittitas County residents are encouraged to contact Community Development Services or CLC with questions or comments.

ALERT:

by Mike Johnston, the Daily Record (May 1, 2008) 

ARTICLE: "TDRs are worth thorough examination" (.pdf)
Daily Record Op Ed (May 2, 2008)

Other Resources & Information

• What is TDR?
  
• Kittitas County TDR Recommendations - Summary (.pdf)
  
• Kittitas County TDR Recommendations - Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf)
  
• Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners
  
• Kittitas County Community Development Services
• CLC's Kittitas County Conservation Program

Questions?

Please contact Skip Swenson at 206-905-6935 or skips@cascadeland.org