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Commission asks staff to study agricultural resource lands, TDR role and to resolve Bainbridge Gardens' nonconforming use
Summary
Commissioners unanimously asked staff to study creating an Agricultural Resource Land designation tied to a functioning transfer-of-development‑rights (TDR) program, and directed staff to return with options to reconcile Bainbridge Gardens' long‑standing nursery use with zoning.
The Planning Commission directed staff on Jan. 8 to study an Agricultural Resource Land (ARL) designation for the city, consider designating city‑owned farmland as ARL, and to analyze how a functioning transfer‑of‑development‑rights program could support groundwater conservation and farmland protection.
Commissioner Ben moved that staff study creating an ARL designation and consider designating city-owned farmland as ARL; staff noted that state law provides an ARL option and that a functioning TDR program is generally required to support it. The motion passed unanimously.
Separately, commissioners discussed Bainbridge Gardens, a long‑established nursery operating on R1 residential parcels whose commercial status had not been converted in earlier planning actions. The commission voted unanimously to ask staff to return with recommendations to reconcile Bainbridge Gardens’ nonconforming commercial use — options cited included rezoning the property to neighborhood center (NC) or other targeted code changes to make the business a conforming use that can expand.
Commissioners also adopted a policy direction to recognize TDR as a tool to conserve and manage groundwater resources and asked staff to draft policy language under LU‑16 to that effect. Jennifer Sutton said staff will consult the executive department on city‑owned farmland restrictions (e.g., deed and bond conditions) and would report back with constraints and options.
These are direction‑level actions; any rezoning, ARL designation or TDR program changes will require further staff analysis, code drafting and public review.
