The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously authorized an agreement with the city of Issaquah to transfer rural development credits from land in the Issaquah Creek watershed in exchange for increased density within the city of Issaquah. The agreement also provides funds for open space in the city of Issaquah.

“This agreement preserves important salmon habitat, consolidates growth in areas where infrastructure is already built, and provides open space for the citizens of Issaquah,” said Larry Phillips, chair of the Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee. “The beauty of the Transfer of Development Rights program is that everyone benefits and it’s completely voluntary.”

The King County Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program is a voluntary land use incentive which provides financial incentives for willing landowners to sell development rights in exchange for a permanent conservation easement. The city of Issaquah is the first city other than Seattle to participate in the TDR program. This agreement will serve as a template for TDR agreements with other suburban cities.

“I commend the leadership in Issaquah to take advantage of the TDR program,” said Phillips. “It’s especially beneficial for cities on the edge of the urban growth boundary to participate in voluntary measures to channel growth into their city centers and preserve rural habitat outside the cities.”

The King County TDR Program has been recognized regionally and nationally as the most successful TDR Program in the United States since its inception in the late 1990’s. With over 92,000 acres now protected, King County has preserved nearly twice the acreage of the TDR Program in Montgomery County, Maryland which has successfully protected approximately 47,000 acres since 1980.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at and type in “2006-0571”