Wheat a Minute, What Are TDRs? How TDR programs help us balance preservation and growth

Did you know that in Lancaster County, we lose about 8 acres of farmland daily to rapid development? Lancastrians are concerned with this unsustainable rate of urban growth, which is why organizations like Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) work to save farms from development. However, as Lancaster County’s population grows, we recognize the ever-increasing need for housing. How can we protect viable farmland and accommodate a growing population? These concerns are where Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) come into play.

TDR programs allow property owners to transfer their development rights to the owner of another property. TDRs are used in many ways, but in Lancaster County, they’re often utilized to further conservation efforts by preserving environmentally sensitive areas and redirecting development to a location more suitable for urban growth. “It’s a land preservation tool tied to zoning. It can either help farmers directly or help land trusts preserve other farms,” explains Jeb Musser, LFT’s VP of Land Protection.

Think of these development rights as products that property owners can sell. When farmers preserve their farms, they acquire TDRs that they can sell to developers to use in areas more suitable for urban growth. For example, if a developer plans to build 20 new houses, but the urban growth area is only zoned for 10, that developer can purchase TDRs from a preserved farmer to complete the project.

But how does this help LFT?

When farmers protect their land through LFT, their acquired TDRs are transferred to us. LFT can then sell TDRs to developers, using those funds to protect even more farms.

While this program has certainly helped us protect more farms in the county, TDRs aren’t always this straightforward. TDR programs are often time-consuming and challenging to implement successfully, in part due to the numerous parties involved. “TDRs are complicated. That’s why not many municipalities use them,” says Jeb. “As of now, only about four townships in the county have active TDR programs.”

Despite their complications, TDR programs are one of the many ways land trusts like LFT help the community balance rapid urban growth and preservation. Although the process is complex and requires careful coordination between municipalities, property owners, and developers, TDRs can help Lancaster County protect its prime farmland for future generations while welcoming new friends to call Lancaster home.

To learn more about TDR programs in Lancaster County, check out the resources below! To learn more about our preservation process, click here.

References:

https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-policy-library/transfers-of-development-rights

https://lancastercountyplanning.org/129/Urban-Strategy

https://library.weconservepa.org/guides/12-transfer-of-development-rights