Bothell Development News

City Explores Transfer of Development Rights and Local Infrastructure Program for Balanced Growth

The city council reviewed a feasibility analysis for implementing a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Local Infrastructure Program (LCIP) to balance development with land conservation and infrastructure investment. The study, conducted by Eco Northwest, explored using TDR to transfer density from rural and resource lands to urban areas and leveraging LCIP, a 25-year revenue-sharing program funded by incremental property taxes, to finance infrastructure. A specific focus area, North Creek, was identified due to its development capacity, although other areas like downtown and Canyon Park were also considered. The city has an existing, localized TDR program related to a Sound Transit bus base property in the Canyon Park subarea. Council members discussed potential incentives, revenue projections, and the flexibility of LCIP funds for infrastructure maintenance and operations. The next steps involve presenting findings to the planning commission and returning to the council with an implementation roadmap.