Gov. Gregoire signs legislation to protect farm, forestland

For Immediate Release: May 14, 2009

SEATTLE � Gov. Chris Gregoire this morning signed House Bill 1172, which increases protection of farmland, forestland and rural land. The signing took place in Seattle at the Cascade Land Conservancy�s 20th Anniversary conservation awards ceremony, which honored the governor for her work to restore Puget Sound.

�The challenges we face in keeping our environment healthy are significant, which makes the work of such groups as the Cascade Land Conservancy even more important,� Gregoire said. �Washington�s population continues to grow by about 100,000 people a year. I see the growth in our state clearly affecting the health of our beloved Puget Sound, and our other natural resources. I want our children and grandchildren to grow up with a love of the outdoors. That�s why together we must act now to protect our resources and quality of life that makes our state so great.�

At the Conservancy�s 2007 awards ceremony, Gregoire signed the regional transfer of development rights marketplace bill, which launched the process of developing a program to shape growth in the Puget Sound region. The legislation signed today implements that program to help local governments slow the development of rural land, farmland and forestland. The bill establishes a voluntary regional transfer of development rights program, which relocates development potential out of farmland and forestland, and into existing urban areas that can accommodate growth.

The program will lead to better development strategies in our cities, as well as assist in the clean up of Puget Sound and the reduction of climate change.

The state will seek a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund the program.

�I know the Cascade Land Conservancy has been one of the most ardent supporters of this program,� Gregoire said. �Thank you for your work to protect the health of our state.�

�We are working with our partners to move development rights off tens of thousands of acres of farms and forests and into our cities and towns that can better accommodate our growth,� said Gene Duvernoy, President, Cascade Land Conservancy. �We are working with regional and national leaders to make better investments in our communities. We know that we must balance our environmental, economic and community needs. For too long, they have been at odds. We need all three for any one to prosper.�

�Transfer of Development Rights is a way to let the free market help preserve farms and forests, while making our communities more livable and efficient,� said Rep. Geoff Simpson, the prime sponsor of the bill in the House. �This bill saves taxpayers untold millions in wasted infrastructure expenses. Why build more roads, sewers, water lines, schools, fire stations, libraries and criminal justice facilities when we just can squeeze more efficiency out of the ones we already have? That�s why I sponsored HB 1172 and have worked for years to increase the use of TDRs in Washington.�

�House Bill 1172 creates a new approach for how we develop in which everybody wins,� said Sen. Fred Jarrett, (D-Mercer Island), who sponsored the bill in the Senate. �Instead of �taking� from some and �giving� to others, this bill creates the opportunity to share the benefits of development fairly.�