Creates a mechanism on a demonstration basis to allow certain counties to authorize a sustainable development alternative for residential development in rural areas as an alternative to limited areas of more intense rural development, fully contained communities and existing, traditional subdivision techniques in order to facilitate management of residential growth in rural areas, to promote preservation of open space, and to minimize and/or reduce the conversion of designated resource lands.

Explores the use of rural receiving areas to support strategies for transfer of development rights and to provide certain counties with options for authorizing sustainable residential development in the rural areas.