Transferring Development Rights, and Building Infrastructure

A new proposal in Washington could help fund urban infrastructure by transferring development rights from rural areas to cities.

1 minute read

February 2, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

Developers can already transfer development rights, but this new proposal from a land conservancy hopes to tap into the increased property taxes in developed areas to fund infrastructure.

"The Cascade Land Conservancy has drafted - and Rep. Larry Springer and Sen. Scott White have introduced - legislation, HB1469 and SB 5253, that would set up a system to transfer development rights from working farms and forest - and, if counties choose, other rural land of ecological significance - to urban developers, who could, within willing cities, build at higher densities. The sale would take place either directly, perhaps through private brokers, or through a city or county that would bank the rights and then resell them."

FULL STORY: A new tool for fighting rural sprawl

Monday, January 31, 2011 in Crosscut

Community / Economic Development Government / Politics Land Use Washington Development Rights Land Conservancies View More

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