In November, ordinance 126455 went into effect allowing Seattle to accept the transfer of development rights (TDR) from farms and forests in Snohomish County as part of the existing regional TDR program active in certain areas of Downtown and South Lake Union. Under existing rules, development in parts of Downtown and South Lake Union may achieve extra floor area by providing certain public benefits such as purchasing development rights from farms and forests in King County. This legislation expands the geographic areas where TDR can come from to include Snohomish County as well.
New Regional Transfer of Development Rights Program
Seattle City Council and King County Council passed legislation in September that will implement a Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program (LCLIP) in South Lake Union and Downtown. This program will generate funding for infrastructure improvements by capturing a portion of the increased King County property tax resulting from the increased assessed value of new development, in exchange for implementing a regional Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program.
