File #: 2005-0376    Version:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 9/6/2005 In control: Growth Management and Unincorporated Areas Committee
On agenda: Final action: 10/17/2005
Enactment date: 10/26/2005 Enactment #: 15305
Title: AN ORDINANCE authorizing the county executive to convey to the city of Kent, under threat of eminent domain, farmland development rights on property necessary for the Johnson creek relocation and restoration project, and to receive just compensation for the conveyance.
Sponsors: Julia Patterson
Indexes: Farmlands, Kent, City of
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 15305.pdf, 2. A. Property Legal Description, 3. A. Property Legal Description, 4. B. Parcel Map, 5. B. Parcel Map, 6. C. Vicinity Map, 7. C. Vicinity Map, 8. Revised Staff Report, 9. Staff Report 10-12-05
Drafter
Clerk 09/01/2005
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the county executive to convey to the city of Kent, under threat of eminent domain, farmland development rights on property necessary for the Johnson creek relocation and restoration project, and to receive just compensation for the conveyance.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings of fact.
A. Ordinance 4341 established the King County farmland preservation program and had as its major purpose the protection and preservation of prime farmland and associated open space lands through the acquisition of development rights voluntarily offered by their owners for lands that met special soils classification criteria, and that were threatened by expanding urbanization.
B. The voters of King County approved the acquisition of the development rights for prime farmland and associated open space lands, as proposed by Ordinance 4341, and approved the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $50,000,000 to acquire such development rights in order to protect and preserve prime farmland and associated open space lands in perpetuity.
C. Under the authorization provided in Ordinance 4341, the county currently holds the development rights to more than 12,600 acres of prime farmland and associated open space lands that serve as buffers for the farmlands, and the vast majority of this acreage is located within Agricultural Production Districts as designated in the King County Comprehensive Plan. The lands for which the county owns the development rights and which are located in Agricultural Production Districts serve an important public purpose and the protection and preservation of these lands constitute an important public use for the citizens of the county and for the county's farmland preservation program.
D. The county currently holds the development rights to prime farmland and associated open space lands in areas outside of the designated agricultura...

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