Transfer of Development Rights Conservation and Local Infrastructure

The Washington Department of Commerce, hereafter called "COMMERCE,” is initiating this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit Proposals from those qualified and interested in participating in a project to provide feasibility assistance and policy and political guidance for local governments to successfully promote and implement Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Land Conservation and Local Infrastructure Programs (LCLIP) in the Puget Sound RegioTDR is a market-based mechanism that supports voluntary transfer of development rights from areas where a community would like to discourage development (“sending areas”) to places where that community would like to focus new growth (“receiving areas”). If a developer purchases development rights from a rural landowner in a sending area, they can use those rights to build a development with increased units, floor area, height, or similar metric in an urban “receiving area”. LCLIP provides a financial incentive for cities to participate in TDR. LCLIP allows cities to receive a portion of future county property tax revenue from areas that receive development rights through TDR. Cities use this revenue to fund infrastructure to support the increased growth associated with this transfer of development rights. If more cities develop TDR and LCLIP then more conservation could occur.From 2011-2015, Commerce helped several local governments establish and progress TDR and LCLIP in the Puget Sound Region through the Watershed Lead Organization (WLO) Program. This project will build on that work by providing additional feasibility assistance and policy guidance for local governments as next steps to promote and implement TDR and LCLIP in the region.This project will develop a feasibility pilot program, toolkit, and guidebook to help local governments assess social, cultural, environmental, and economic factors needed for TDR/LCLIP implementation. The project will design guidance and incentives that will ensure that the TDR/LCLIP meets community needs. By expanding the use of TDR/LCLIP across the Puget Sound region more individuals and communities will be able to participate in incentive programs that protect ecologically important lands and support climate change adaptation and resilience.

COMMERCE intends to award one contract to provide the services described in this RFP. 

4/1/2024

Washington State Department of Commerce

Deborah Jacobs

3/1/2024

Should be posted here on 3/1/2/204 Grants and Loans (wa.gov)