In 1999, Rick Pruetz began a consulting practice specializing in transfer of development rights and related planning/preservation tools. To date, he has prepared TDR studies and/or ordinances for more than 20 communities including Davis County, Utah, Santa Fe County, New Mexico and Livermore, California. Prior to 1999, he served as the City Planner of Burbank, California for over 14 years and worked as a planner for Waukesha, Wisconsin and Camp Dresser McKee. He holds a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. In 2004, he was honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

In addition to the preparation of TDR studies and ordinances, he has conducted numerous workshops and presentations on TDR throughout the US and elsewhere as listed in the section below on TDR Workshops. As detailed below under Publications, he has written several articles and papers about TDR as well as two other TDR books including Saved By Development the predecessor of Beyond Takings and Givings. As listed under Other Presentations, he has spoken on TDR at numerous conferences and meetings. He can be reached by calling (310) 749-5535 or writing arje@attglobal.net.

TDR Workshops

Austin, Texas (2005) Using transfer of impervious surface coverage rights to protect water quality in part of the Edwards Aquifer

Gallatin County, Montana (2004) Presentations to TDR Committee, County Board and citizen group.

Newton County, Georgia (2003) Presentation on TDR to the Center for Community Preservation and Planning

Athens, Georgia (2003) Land Use Clinic, University of Georgia - Athens

La Plata County, Colorado (2003) Presentation on TDR for general plan

Bellingham/Whatcom County, Washington (2002) Day-long workshop

Mesa County, Colorado (2001) TDR presentation and two workshops

Nevada County, California (2001) Presentation to planning committee

Oakland, California (1999) Presentation to Mayor Brown and officials 

Douglas County, Nevada (1999) County Board & Planning Commission

Santa Fe, New Mexico (1999) Workshop for 1000 Friends of New Mexico

Livermore, California (1995) Workshop for specific plan team

Nevada City, California (1994) Workshop for Rural Quality Coalition

TDR Publications

Beyond Takings and Givings: Saving Natural Areas, Farmland and Historic Landmarks with Transfer of Development Rights and Density Transfer Charges, Arje Press, 2003, 500 pages.

Saved By Development: Preserving Environmental Areas, Farmland and Historic Landmarks With Transfer of Development Rights, Arje Press, 1997, 436 pages.

Putting Transfer of Development Rights to Work in California, Solano Press Books, 1993, 222 pages.

“Making TDR Work for You”, The Commissioner, (American Planning Association), Winter 2005.

TDRs and Other Market-Based Land Mechanisms: How They Work and Their Role in Shaping Metropolitan Growth, with William Fulton, Jan Mazurek and Chris Williamson, The Brookings Institution, June 2004.

“TDR-Less TDR: A Transfer of Development Rights Approach That ‘Custom Fits’ Transactions”, PAS Memo, (American Planning Association), August 2002.

“Using Transfer of Development Rights to Put Growth Where It Belongs”, Linkages: Periodical of the Institute for Ecological Health, Fall 1998.

 “Putting Growth In Its Place, With Transfer of Development Rights”, Planning Commissioners Journal, Summer 1998.

“Transfer of Development Rights Turns 30”, California Planner, (American Planning Association – California Chapter), May-June 1998.

“Viewpoint” (on the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Suitum decision on TDR), Planning, American Planning Association, January 1998.

“Transfer of Development Rights In California”, Environmental Monitor, (Association of Environmental Professionals – California), Summer 1994.

TDR Presentations

Vision 2020, 2005, Sunland-Tujunga, California

American Planning Association Conference, 2005, San Francisco

Citizens Planning Foundation, 2005, Santa Barbara, California

American Farmland Trust, National Conference, 2004, Lexington, KY

Urban Development Institute of Australia, (Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia), 2004 presentations in Brisbane, Coolum, Sydney and Perth, Australia

Greenspace Commission, Forsyth County Georgia, 2004, Cumming, GA

Western Planner Conference, 2004, Missoula, MT

Mexico Instituto Nacional de Ecologia’s “International Seminar on Economic Instruments for Environmental Basins”, 2003, Mexico City, Mexico

American Planning Association Conference, 2002, Chicago

Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, Annual Conference, 2002, Denver

Upstate Forever Conference, 2002, Greenville, NC

The Second Heart of the City Seminar, 2001, Berkeley

American Planning Association Conference, 2001, New Orleans

American Planning Association’s Conference, 2000, New York

“Transfer of Development Rights Revisited”, audio conference sponsored by American Planning Association and Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, April 9, 2000.

Rural Development Council of Michigan, 2000, East Lansing

California Chapter American Planning Association, 1999, Bakersfield

American Planning Association Conference, 1999, Seattle

Sierra Business Council, 1998, Murphys, California

California Chapter American Planning Association, Costa Mesa

American Planning Association Conference, 1996, Orlando

California Chapter American Planning Association, 1993, Modesto