Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine this week proposed renewal of an innovative partnership with the City of Seattle that protects rural lands by transferring development rights from rural areas to the urban area.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine this week proposed renewal of an innovative partnership with the City of Seattle that protects rural lands by transferring development rights from rural areas to the urban area.

“This proven approach steers development away from our region’s farms and forests, into the urban areas where we already have the services to support it,” said Executive Constantine. “Rural farms face intense pressure from development, but when protected through transfers of development rights, they can help ensure a consistent, fresh, local food supply to city residents for generations to come.”

The County and City entered into a previous Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) agreement ten years ago. That agreement, which expired in 2008, permanently protected 900 acres in two rural watersheds by transferring the development rights into three “TDR towers” in the Denny Triangle area north of downtown:

• the Vulcan Development projects on 2200 and 2201 Westlake Ave.,
• the Aspira tower at 1823 Terry Ave, and
• the Olive 8 tower at 1816 8th Ave.

In addition to providing valuable housing and business space, all three buildings have the environmentally-efficient LEED Silver rating and significantly reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.