Creating a market for retreat : transfer of development rights as a climate adaptation tool in coastal Massachusetts

Abstract

Transfer of development rights (TDR) is a zoning tool that many planning experts have suggested as a potential climate adaptation tool, though it has never been implemented for that purpose. This thesis explores how a TDR program applied as a climate adaptation tool could facilitate a managed retreat program by creating a hypothetical program for the town of Westport, Massachusetts. While the advantage of using TDR for adaptation is that it provides a funding mechanism for managed retreat, its success depends on the program's ability to generate development rights transfers. The Westport implementation is projected to have only partial success at achieving reductions in vulnerability to coastal flooding through buy-outs because of the limited expected demand for TDR credits. However, the Westport implementation has both advantages and disadvantages as an adaptation approach despite its limited success at achieving the primary program goal. These considerations are discussed in detail and are used to generate a set of recommendations for state leaders who may consider promoting the use of TDR as an adaptation approach for other municipalities in Massachusetts.