BILL REQ. #:  S-2539.1 

Read first time 03/19/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to manufactured/mobile home parks in the regional transfer of development rights program; amending RCW 43.362.005; and adding a new section to chapter 43.362 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.362.005 and 2007 c 482 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that current concern over the rapid and increasing loss of rural, agricultural, and forested land has led to the exploration of creative approaches to preserving these important lands. The legislature finds also that the creation of a regional transfer of development rights marketplace will assist in slowing the conversion of these lands.
     The legislature further finds that transferring development rights is a market-based technique that encourages the voluntary transfer of growth from places where a community would like to see less development, referred to as sending areas, to places where a community would like to see more development, referred to as receiving areas. Under this technique, permanent deed restrictions are placed on the sending area properties to ensure that the land will be used only for approved activities such as farming, forest management, conservation, or passive recreation. Also under this technique, the costs of purchasing the recorded development restrictions are borne by the developers who receive the building credit or bonus.
     The legislature further finds that a successful transfer of development rights program must consider housing affordable to all economic segments of the population in designated sending areas. Manufactured/mobile home parks have a long history as areas that provide housing opportunities for all economic segments of the population. Their numbers are shrinking due to development pressures that threaten to eliminate this housing option. The inclusion of manufactured/mobile home parks in the regional transfer of development rights program will assist in slowing the conversion of these areas.
     Accordingly, the legislature has determined that it is good public policy to build upon existing transfer of development rights programs, pilot projects, and private initiatives that foster effective use of transferred development rights through the creation of a market-based program that focuses on the central Puget Sound region.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.362 RCW to read as follows:
     Counties shall use as a criteria to guide the designation of sending areas for participation in the regional transfer of development rights program that the land is in current use as a manufactured/mobile home park as defined in chapter 59.20 RCW.