§ 43.362.005. Findings
The legislature finds that current concern over the rapid and increasing loss of rural, agricultural, and forested land has led to the exploration of creative approaches to preserving these important lands. The legislature finds also that the creation of a regional transfer of development rights marketplace will assist in slowing the conversion of these lands.
The legislature further finds that transferring development rights is a market-based technique that encourages the voluntary transfer of growth from places where a community would like to see less development, referred to as sending areas, to places where a community would like to see more development, referred to as receiving areas. Under this technique, permanent deed restrictions are placed on the sending area properties to ensure that the land will be used only for approved activities such as farming, forest management, conservation, or passive recreation. Also under this technique, the costs of purchasing the recorded development restrictions are borne by the developers who receive the building credit or bonus.
Accordingly, the legislature has determined that it is good public policy to build upon existing transfer of development rights programs, pilot projects, and private initiatives that foster effective use of transferred development rights through the creation of a market-based program that focuses on the central Puget Sound region.
[2007 c 482 § 1.]
Sections: 43.362.005 43.362.010 43.362.020 NextLast modified: April 7, 2009