Transferring Development Rights, and Building Infrastructure

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."