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 County Population Growth (1900-2060)
250,000
200,000
Population
150,000
Plan Trend Target
1900-2010 Actual Growth
100,000
50,000
0
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
Year
2000
2020
2040
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?
Key drivers of watershed health include:

Protecting working farm
and forest lands

Protecting floodplain and
other sensitive areas

Encouraging growth in
existing cities

Implementing improved
stormwater solutions
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
Other sending areas:

Future Industrial lands
Other receiving areas:

Areas with piped water

Bayview Ridge UGA

Rural Villages
TDR concept at work in Skagit County!
 Burlington Agricultural
Heritage Density Credit
Program

Sale of density credits
funds Farmland
Legacy Ag-NRL
purchases