ORS 94.534: Policy on transferable development credit systems.

(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that: (a) Working farms and forests make vital contributions to Oregon by: (A) Providing jobs, timber, agricultural products, tax base and other social and economic benefits; (B) Helping to maintain soil, air and water resources; (C) Reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; and (D) Providing habitat for wildlife and aquatic life. (b) Natural resources, scenic and historic areas and open spaces promote a sustainable and healthy environment and natural landscape that contributes to the livability of Oregon. (c) Population growth, escalating land values, increasing risks due to wildfire and invasive species and changes in land ownership and management objectives, with a resulting increase in conflict caused between resource uses and dispersed residential development, require that new methods be developed to facilitate the continued management of private lands zoned for farm use, forest use and mixed farm and forest use for the purposes of: (A) Agricultural production and timber harvest; and (B) Preservation of natural resources, scenic and historic areas and open spaces for future generations. (2) The Legislative Assembly declares that transferable development credit systems: (a) Complement the statewide land use planning system in Oregon and encourage effective local implementation of the statewide land use planning goals. (b) Provide incentives for private landowners, local, regional, state and federal governments and other entities to permanently protect farm land and forestland, including a land base for working farms, ranches, forests and woodlots, significant natural resources, scenic and historic areas and open spaces. (c) Benefit rural land owners, including owners of working farms, ranches, forests and woodlots, that voluntarily provide stewardship of natural resources on private lands. (d) Provide voluntary and effective methods to help improve the livability of urban areas and to mitigate and adapt to global climate change. [2009 c.504 §1]