HomeMy WebLinkAboutTDC PresentationTransferable Development Credit &
Pollution Reduction Credit Programs
Board of County Commissioners
December 16, 2013
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History
1960’s and 1970’s
125-square mile area of La Pine subdivided into over
12,000 lots in 200 subdivisions
1982
La Pine Aquifer Study finds high nitrate levels in groundwater.
1994
Oregon DEQ finds increasing nitrate levels outside of La Pine.
1996
7,000 remained undeveloped
County receives a $157,250 Regional Problem Solving Grant
to identify regional problems and evaluate solutions.
La Pine Regional
Problem-Solving Project
Engaging citizens in La Pine and local,
state and federal stakeholders
in coordinated problem solving to find
“locally appropriate solutions”
Regional Problem
Solving Themes (1996)
Groundwater contamination &
water quality threatened by
septic systems
High water table
Existing subdivisions with
unbuildable lots
Development impacts wildlife,
especially deer migration corridor
Extreme wildfire potential
Poor quality roads
Lack of evacuation routes
42 Square Mile RPS Boundary
Adopted Comprehensive Plan Goals for
Regional Problem Solving
1. To preserve water and air quality, reduce wildfire hazards and
protect wildlife habitat.
2. To create a new neighborhood that provides services efficiently,
sustains economic development and reduces adverse impacts to
groundwater quality in South Deschutes County.
3. To develop an equitable, market-driven system, that reduces the
potential development of existing lots in floodplains, wetlands, mule
deer migration corridors and areas susceptible to groundwater
pollution.
4. To ensure that domestic water derived from groundwater meets safe
drinking water standards.
5. To explore innovative sewage treatment and disposal methods.
$5.5M U.S. EPA grant to test innovative septic
systems
Wildfire and wildlife impact mitigation programs
Creating a Transferable Development Credit
Program
La Pine Regional
Problem-Solving Project
544 Acres for about
$500,000
Expanded La Pine
UUC Boundary
Loaned Sewer District
over $1 million to
serve the property
Conducted extensive
public outreach to
create a master plan
& TDC program.
TDC Program
County Purchases Federal Land and Expands La Pine Urban
Unincorporated Area Boundary
Neighborhood
Planning Area
The Plan
What Could It Look Like?
What Could It Look Like?
Benefits of the New Neighborhood
Eliminates need for $200 million dollar rural sewer system.
Keeps Rural areas Rural.
Purchases private property rights.
Provides opportunity for a range of housing types.
Meets Community Facility needs.
Proximity to La Pine Industrial Park.
Accommodates population growth.
Transportation:
Trip lengths shortened.
Average Daily Trips reduced along Highway 97 corridor.
Increased opportunity for walking, biking and transit.
TDC Program Goal
Encourage 1,650 owners of 3,600
“eligible” lots to sell their TDCs based on
projected build out of New Neighborhood
AND
Require developers of the La Pine New
Neighborhood to “buy” those credits
Neighborhood
Planning Area
Transferable Development Credit Program
Definition: A credit given for a
restrictive covenant granted to
Deschutes County restricting the
placement of a septic system on the
subject property.
Transferable Development Credit
Sending Area
Lot owners can sell TDCs
1 TDC per lot
1.5 TDC per lot in High Priority
Deer Migration Corridor Area
Record Deed Restriction
Keep or sell lot
Participation is voluntary
TDCs sold at market rate
TDC Eligible Properties
Legal lot or parcel in the RPS study area
Not greater than 2 acres
Has (or can get) septic approval (more than 2 feet
above groundwater)
Undeveloped – no dwelling
Not developed with a sewage disposal system
Transferable Development Credit
Receiving Area
New Neighborhood
Developer must turn in 5.5 TDCs per
net developable acre
County sells land at a discount
Participation is mandatory to
develop
Developer to purchase TDC
from a private landowner at
market rate or County
Per lot cost determined by # of
lots platted per acre
County Kick-Started the Program
Created a bank of TDCs to get the program started
by:
Converting foreclosed properties to TDCs
Working with properties who owned multiple lots
to sell TDCs
Actively marketed the program to property
owners in sending area
Results
SENDING AREA
43 TDCs from private property owners (35 lots)
97 TDC from County owned lots (76 lots)
Restrictive covenants recorded on 111 lots
3500 lbs of nitrate eliminated per year
RECEIVING AREA
106 TDCs assigned to Quadrant 2c (Pahlisch)
32 acres developed for residential use on La Pine
Sewer
Transferable Development Credit Program
Neighborhood
Planning Area
TDC Amendments: 2005-2006
•Program worked with low land prices. After
land prices increased, the program slowed.
•National Demonstration Project to test
innovative septic systems & USGS
Groundwater Assessment results parallel to the
rising land prices changed program focus to
reducing nitrogen loading from existing septic
systems
•Convened 17+ member Advisory Committee
•Recommended Amendments to create a
Pollution Reduction Credit Program
•BOCC adopts amendments in June 2006
•Pollution Reduction Credits
created when an existing system
is upgraded (owner would own
a PRC to sell to developer), or
•When a Neighborhood Planning
Area developer pays into the
Groundwater Partnership Fund
Part 1: Create a Pollution Reduction Credit
Transferable Development Credit Amendments
Pollution Reduction Credits
Neighborhood
Planning Area
Transferable Development Credit Amendments
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Neighborhood
Planning Area
Transferable Development Credit Amendments
Developer Obligations
Part 2: Timing of Pollution Reduction Credits
Pollution Reduction Credits
obligations recorded on final
plat approval for new
subdivisions in the
Neighborhood Planning Area
Obligations must be met prior
to issuing building permits
Transferable Development Credit Amendments
•Number of pollution reduction
credits apportioned across the
entire Neighborhood Planning
Area
•Cost of the partnership fund for
paying for credits instead of
installing them
–$7,500 per credit (about half the cost
to upgrade a septic system)
–Partnership fund set high to create
incentive for developers to retrofit
instead of paying
–Cost based on data from the La Pine
National Demonstration Project and
currently available technologies
Resolution Details
Transferable Development Credit Amendments
Transferable Development Program Changes:
(OLD)
Transferred Development:
Prevents pollution from new
development
(NEW)
Pollution Reduction:
Reduces pollution from
existing systems
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Tentative Plat for Quadrants 2a, 2b & 2d
(2013)
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Neighborhood
Planning Area
Findings and Decision issued
November 1, 2013
•Developer obligated to
provide 534 Pollution
Reduction Credits
•Proceeds will help retrofit
standardized septic systems
& other groundwater
protection programs
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Conclusion
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Neighborhood
Planning Area
•Program has evolved over time
due to land prices, National
Demonstration Project & USGS
Assessment
•City of La Pine will take over
planning jurisdiction in early 2014
& maintain the program –
primarily PRCs
•Program may change if Goal 11
Exception for sewer is approved
& installed
•Should the program be changed
for Neighborhoods 3 & 4?