Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program
Revitalizing our communities while conserving farms & forests, the Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program is a ground-breaking program that will dramatically impact how we shape our future. It combines a real estate tool called Transfer of Development Rights with a public financing opportunity for cities.
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ADD—Conserved farms and forests
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a market-based tool that promotes growth in places it is desired while conserving farms, forests, ecologically significant areas and open space. It gives landowners the option of selling the development value from their property as an alternative to building. Developers purchasing these rights receive bonuses, such as additional height or square footage, in areas more suitable for growth.
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PLUS—Revitalized communities
In exchange for accepting development rights, cities gain access to financing for revitalizing and redeveloping neighborhoods. Shared tax revenue generated by growth allows cities to invest in parks, streetscapes, utilities, roads and other infrastructure that helps make communities attractive places to live and do business.
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TO EQUAL—A better future for our families
Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program (LCLIP) is an unprecedented opportunity to link the future of our communities with the conservation of our farms and forests. Improving our neighborhoods will enhance the quality of life in cities while conserving farms and forests will help keep our region healthy, sustainable and prosperous.
Case in point
The City of Seattle and King County are early adopters of LCLIP, implementing the program in fall 2013. Seattle has agreed to accept 800 TDR credits into the South Lake Union and Downtown neighborhoods, which will conserve over 25,000 acres of farm, forest and rural land. Over a 25 year period, LCLIP is anticipated to provide $27.5 million in infrastructure financing, which Seattle plans to use for green streets, a community center, and bike, pedestrian and transit projects. Today, Seattle is well on its way towards the ten-year target of 400 credits in about 15% of the time.
Related Perspectives and News
Lively discussion at North Sound Sustainability Forum
Many people expressed a strong desire to support farming communities so they may thrive in the future while working with cities to prevent sprawl and protect the beauty and resources of the region.
Making access to healthy food a fact of life
A member of Forterra’s Policy Department, Program Manager Becca Meredith, reflects on the work Forterra has done to ensure this region’s access to healthy food, while bringing people together in the process.
Putting Down Roots
Almost 1,900 volunteers converged to celebrate Green City Days at parks and green spaces across Puget Sound this fall. They planted more than 11,500 native plants. There are now twelve cities in the Green City Partnerships—Everett, Kent, Kirkland, Puyallup, Redmond, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tacoma, Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines—and these annual events give volunteers a wonderful opportunity to help restore their local natural areas while building community through stewardship.
Love Trees? Become a Tree Ambassador!
Trees for Seattle is excited to announce that we are accepting applications for new Tree Ambassadors! Tree Ambassadors are volunteers who help care for and protect Seattle’s trees.
Historic agreement gives community chance to preserve Wayne Golf Course back nine
Forterra is interested in financing the purchase of the 89-acre Wayne Golf Course to provide the Bothell community an opportunity to creatively structure a permanent preservation strategy to support a variety of publicly-accessible uses and habitat restoration actions which will put the Wayne land at the very heart of the community.
Forterra gets comfortable with cities and small towns alike
Ten years ago, the then Cascade Land Conservancy launched The Cascade Agenda, a bold plan to conserve 1.3 million acres…
Friends of the forest: Volunteers go to work on Green Everett Day
More than 100 volunteers dug holes, placed plants and spread mulch Saturday morning at Forest Park for Green Everett Day.…
Study will look at transferring development rights to protect rural areas
How to protect rural properties in Kitsap County through legal procedures, such as “transfer of development rights,” will be the…