If you have seen our land use planning solutions mind map, you may have noticed the phrase Transfer Development Rights.
Generally, transfer development rights (TDR) is a land use planning mechanism used to take the development rights (or buildability) from one designated area and redirect it to another area. Nationally, jurisdictions will often use this to protect farmland or other natural/cultural resources to divert development from these properties to other, more urban areas.
The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) has two TDR programs. The first is a TDR that land owners who received dwelling authorizations through Measure 49 can apply to transfer those rights to other lands with existing residential development. DLCD has published a step by step guide of the Measure 40 TDR program here. They also have a general explanation of this program on the state website.
The TDR Pilot Program is another program that focuses on forest lands, with the intent to apply the credits to areas that do not have potential conflict with forest practices. In Oregon, only one community has currently utilized this program. La Pine, Oregon was able to successfully leverage the TDR pilot program to remove potential development from a problematic forested area to another site more suited for residential development.
As we continue to discuss and think about offering more flexibility in our land use planning program, TDRs may be one of the solutions we present as a potential opportunity to achieve goals and address challenges.