Growth and Conservation in the Puget Sound Region

Like many residents of the Pacific Northwest, I was drawn to this part of the country by its beautiful landscapes, thriving economy, and quality of life.  As our region continues to grow, the very elements that define it are at risk of being altered by that growth.  How can we protect these amazing landscapes for everyone's benefit while prospering and improving our quality of life?  One approach is through land use policies that promote growth within existing urban areas while permanently protecting our region's farms, forests, and open spaces.  A tool that I have worked to design and implement around the region is transfer of development rights.  This voluntary, market-based tool gives incentives for developers to build to higher intensities where growth is desired in exchange for the conservation of farms, forests, and open spaces.  It's simple in concept, complex in execution, and it's starting to work in this region.  Here is a sample of publications I either authored or co-wrote that led to the adoption of new legislation and policies at the state and local level in Washington: 

Strategic Opportunities for Conservation and Growth Management (for Snohomish County, 2011)

Alternative Transfer of Development Rights Transaction Mechanisms (for Washington State Department of Commerce, 2008)

Analysis of the Impacts of Transfer of Development Rights Programs on Affordable Housing (for Washington State Department of Commerce, 2009)

A Resource Guide to Designing Transfer of Development Rights Programs in Washington State (for Washington State Department of Commerce, 2009)

Forterra blog post about the success of land use policy updates in Snohomish County