ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
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Peer Review
The County Executive introduced bill 23-16 which authorizes the County to create a peer review process for development plan reviews. After passage, the County must come up with rules and regulations for peer reviews but all reviews would be paid for solely by the developer as a voluntary option in lieu of traditional County reviews. The MBIA supports this legislation and sent this letter of support to the City Council. The legislation has had two public hearings including various amendments to narrow the scope of peer review to engineering plans. It is scheduled to be heard once again on June 6th. A vote will occur at this time if no new amendments are adopted.
APF Test
In the Annapolis City Council, Alderman Arnett and Littman attempted to once again force a vote on Bill O-36-16 to create an Adequate Public Facilities test for schools in the City of Annapolis that would effectively close all development in the City within 3 years. The MBIA sent this letter in opposition to the City Council and the bill was not voted on at this time.
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BALTIMORE CITY
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Transform Baltimore Zoning Code Update
The City Council Land Use and Transportation Committee completed voting on amendments to Transform's text and tables. The Committee is now taking up Map Amendments. In the amendment process, the MBIA protected the vast majority of "permitted" uses in all areas of the City, including for residential development, in the use tables and will continue to represent the industry at every voting session to protect the significant gains made in crafting the new zoning code. No new voting sessions are scheduled at this time but the MBIA looks forward to completion of the code by the end of 2016.
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BALTIMORE COUNTY
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CALVERT COUNTY
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| New Director of the Department of Community Planning and Building
Thomas Barnett, director of the Department of Community Planning and Building, has resigned his position with the county and accepted the position of development services director for the city of Hollywood, Fla. Mark Willis, the county's deputy director of enterprise fund operations under the Department of Public Works, has been selected as the County's new Director of the Department of Community Planning and Building. Mr. Willis begins his new position Thursday, May 19th.
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CHARLES COUNTY
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SWM Administrative Waiver Completion Guidance
The Charles County Office of Planning, Growth and Management has issued a Green Notice (16-08) concerning the county's guidelines on SWM Administrative Waivers. This notice is to clarify the County's policy and provide a directive for Development Service Permit projects that were granted and hold a valid Stormwater Management Administrative Waiver.
Projects that will have Stormwater Management Facilities fully completed and also have sediment trapping devices ready for final conversion by May 4, 2017 will have satisfied the administrative waiver approval conditions.
If construction activities, in accordance with the approved construction plans associated with the
Administrative Waiver, within the drainage area to a completed Stormwater Management
Facility are not finalized, then that completed Stormwater Management Facility, as well as the activity within that contributing drainage area are exempt from the requirement to provide for Stormwater Management in accordance with the 2007 Maryland Stormwater Act.
Projects that will not have Stormwater Management Facilities completed as described above by
May 4, 2017 will have their Administrative Waiver expire on that date. It is anticipated that a
"Notification of Non-Compliance" per Section 11.7 of the Stormwater Management Ordinance will be issued. Those projects will then be required to address Stormwater Management through the three-step permitting process under the current regulatory requirements.
Kaii-Ziegler Appointed as Director of Planning and Growth Management
Steve Kaii-Zieglerhas been appointed as the new Director of the Department of Planning and Growth Management. Kaii-Ziegler will begin his employment with Charles County Government on July 11, 2016. Kaii-Ziegler brings to the county more than 28 years of experience in the areas of comprehensive/ community planning and development; transportation, land use, water/sewer, and environmental planning; historic and agricultural preservation; code and zoning enforcement; and human resource management. He has worked as a planning director for county governments in Maryland for 15 years, including Frederick, Harford, and Queen Anne's counties.
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CARROLL COUNTY
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New Contact Info
Carroll County has released a new list of staff titles and phone extensions for its development review personnel. View the contacts >>>
Forest Clearing
The County issues a policy implementation document regarding Chapter 150 relating to allowing increased forest clearing on single family lots that are predominantly forested which were created before Chapter 150 was passed.
Read the policy guidance >>>
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HARFORD COUNTY
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HarfordNext Master Plan
County Executive Glassman will introduce the HarfordNext Master Plan to the County Council for public hearing on
June 7th at 6pm at 212 S. Bond Street. The MBIA is asking members, including their subcontractors and other tradesmen, to attend the hearing and testify in favor of the master plan which includes a small expansion of the development envelope. In order to testify, you must sign up in advance no later than 5pm on June 7th. To sign up, y
ou may email
[email protected]
or call 410-638-3343 to sign up.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
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Property Taxes
A property tax Increase of 8.7 percent was tentatively approved as part of the county's operating and capital budgets. The property tax increase would mean an increase of $326 in property taxes next fiscal year for the average county homeowner. The average home value in the county is $464,441.
Expedited Bill 15-16, Recordation Taxes
This bill Increases recordation tax on properties sold or refinanced to $1 per $500 in the sale or refinancing and the recordation tax premium by $0.75 per $500 in the sale or refinancing. However, the tax premium only applies to sales and refinancing above $500,000. To make the rate change more progressive, the council raised the exemption for home buyers from $50,000 to $100,000 for owner-occupied homes. The Council delayed the implementation date of the bill to Sept. 1, 2016.
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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
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Construction Cost and Associated Permit Fees for Private Storm Drainage and Stormwater Management Systems
The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement recently issued a techno-gram concerning construction cost and associated permit fees for private storm drainage and stormwater management systems. The techno-gram indicated that all site/road permits are to include a construction cost estimate for private Storm Drainage and SWM systems outside of the public right of way, as required per Prince George's County Code, Section 32-120(a) (2), which states "Fees for permits that include public and private storm drainage and stormwater management fees based on ten percent of the construction cost of the work." See attachment to see what else is included in the construction cost >>>
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ST MARY'S COUNTY
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Proposed change to the St. Mary's County Sign Ordinance
The St. Mary's County Board of County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing in the Commissioners' Meeting Room in the Chesapeake Building, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, Maryland, on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 beginning at 6:30 p.m., for the purpose of receiving public comment on a proposed Ordinance adopting Chapter 286 of the Code of St. Mary's County, Maryland, establishing Land Use regulations regarding signs.
The proposed Ordinance would:
- define classes of residential, multi-family, mixed-use, agricultural and non-residential properties and commercial centers;
- define signs generally, functional signs, event signs, and commercial signs;
- establish the types, numbers and dimensions of signs permitted on different classes of property;
- require the removal of event signs within a certain time after the event;
- provide for the continuation for a period of time of nonconforming signs lawfully in existence on April 5, 2016;
- prohibit the location of a digital sign within a certain distance of residential property boundary lines;
- prohibit signs that create public safety hazards;
- provide that a violation of the Ordinance is a civil infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000); and
- provide for the removal of illegal signs.
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SOMERSET COUNTY
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Solar Farm on Hold
The solar farm that was approved in Somerset County is on hold until OneEnergy satisfies residents that their plan to screen the panels from neighbors is satisfactory. The current proposed solution is to install a wall of evergreens that could be trimmed at the top like a hedge. However, if the county cracks down too hard, the Public Service Commission could simply override local requirements.
Eastern Shore Builders Chapter Meeting
The Eastern Shore Builders Chapter will meet on Monday, June 6, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Ocean Pines Library, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, MD. Katie Maloney, MBIA State Lobbyist will be attending the meeting and give a wrap-up of the 2016 Legislative Session. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEETING TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 6:00 pm TO 8:00 pm. Please RSVP to Joan Strang
or call 410-845-0132.
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WICOMICO COUNTY
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| Draft Growth Tier Map
Wicomico County is preparing a copy of the Draft Growth Tier Map to be submitted to the Maryland Department of Planning for comments so that it can be included in their new Comprehensive Plan. Review of their Draft Comprehensive Plan continues.
CAFO
Wicomico County has drafted new regulations for CAFOs and will forward them to the Wicomico County Planning Commission to review. Once the Planning Commission has approved the regulations they will return them to the Wicomico County Council for final approval.
Salisbury Revitalization
Salisbury Mayor, Jake Day has outlined the plans for revitalizing downtown Salisbury. To date work on the river walk will be completed by the end of June. The next phase of the revitalization will start in July with work on Division Street and Main Street. Both streets must be dug up to install storm water management pipes and lay cable for Wi-Fi. The work on the streets will take at least six months.
Past Due Property Taxes
Wicomico County will not hold an annual tax sale this year; however, they will recoup past due property taxes through other means, including working out payment plans.
Budget Hearing
A hearing on Wicomico County's FY 2017 Budget will be held on June 7, 2016.
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WORCESTER COUNTY
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Flood Map
The Federal Emergency Management Agency flood map that went into effect last summer designates about 18-20 buildings on the north end of Ocean City in the highest-risk flooding category and as a result their insurance premiums have shot up from tens of thousands of dollars per year to hundreds of thousands. The affected properties are mostly between 93rd and 123rd streets and consist largely of condominium towers, but there are a few hotels as well. In order to correct this error the Town of Ocean City has hired Hanson Flood Risk Consultants to perform the modeling and collect the information FEMA needs as part of its formal revision process. The town has also contacted their state and federal elected representatives. An agency decision isn't expected for at least six months.
Grace Period
The Ocean City Council has granted a building code grace period for contractors and architects. For the next three months site plans can be reviewed under the old building codes or the new regulations that Ocean City Adopted in April. On April 18, 2016 the resort amended its housing standards to integrate the updated international building code with minor exceptions into their code. However, the council upheld its longstanding requirement for 40 square feet per occupant in a bedroom for all residential properties (the international building code allows 50 square feet). The new requirements also allow property owners or licensed plumbers to replace fixtures without a permit as long as the project does not alter major piping. The grace period ends on July 15, 2016.
Property Tax Decrease
The Town of Ocean City has approved a $124 million fiscal year budget for 2017. The budget includes a slight decrease in property taxes and funding for several infrastructure projects. The new tax rate is 47.27 cents per $100 of assessed value compared to the current year's 47.8 cents.
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OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS
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Overtime Rule Takes Effect Dec. 1
The U.S. Department of Labor's
Overtime Rule
will take effect on December 1. The new rule doubles the federal overtime salary threshold from $23,660 to $47,476 per year. The rule indexes the salary threshold to inflation every three years. This would impact employees who were previously exempt from the overtime requirements, such as construction supervisors and outside sales staff, among other administrative employees.
Small business has criticized the rule.
NAHB says that this 100% increase to the salary threshold for overtime eligibility will hit the home building industry particularly hard and harm housing affordability. It will reduce job-advancement opportunities and the hours of full-time construction supervisors, leading to construction delays, increased costs and less affordable housing options for consumers. NAHB estimates more than 96,000 construction supervisors would become overtime eligible under this rule.
OSHA Announces New Recordkeeping Rule
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its final electronic recordkeeping rule which covers industries, including construction, that are employers with 250 or more employees. These industries need to electronically submit their 300, 300A and 301 forms to OSHA on an annual basis. Construction industry employers that have between 20 and 249 employees are only required to electronically submit their 300A annual summary forms.
OSHA will provide a secure website for the transmission of this information. The rule allows for certain redactions to be made, such as employee names, addresses, and health care provider information. Additionally, the rule includes provisions that require employers to inform each employee of their rights to report injuries and illnesses and how to do so, and inform them that they may not be retaliated against for reporting injuries or illnesses.
NAHB believes that OSHA has failed to show any benefit to improving the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses from administering the electronic recordkeeping rule and that the rule lacks justification as to how the submission and publication of this data will improve workplace safety. Housing the data-the accuracy and quality of which is dependent on a number of factors-online has the potential to cause harm if made public.
The final rule becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2017, except for sections 1904.35 (employee involvement) and 1904.36 (prohibition against discrimination/retaliation), which become effective on Aug. 10, 2016. For other requirements consult the final rule in the Federal Register,
click here
.
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/05/12/2016-10443/improve-tracking-of-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses
PEPCO Residential Connection Rates Change
With approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission,
beginning June 1, 2016
, the service connection fee for Single Family Detached dwellings will be $1,656 and the fee for Townhouses and Multi-Family dwellings of four or fewer units willl be $818. This represents a decrease of 0.36 percent and an increase of 11.0% percent respectively from the previous fees. While the single family rate remained effectively the same, the key driver of the rate increase for townhouses was due to increases in contractor and inspection labor.
WSSC ePermit Demo Site & Video Tutorials
Try out the new WSSC ePermit Demo Site
. User Guide and Video Tutorials are online that cover getting started, plumber licensing and renewal, permit applilcations, eplan review, .and payment of permits, and other services.
A new NAHB study
shows that, on average, government regulations account for 24.3 percent of the final price of a new single-family home. Three-fifths of the regulatory costs - 14.6 percent of the final house price - is due to a higher price for a finished lot resulting from regulations imposed during the lot's development. The other two-fifths - 9.7 percent of the house price - is the result of costs incurred by the builder after purchasing the finished lot.
Factoring in NAHB's previous
2011 estimates
,
the cost of regulation in the price of a new home is rising more than twice as fast as the average American's ability to pay for it.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Housing Statistics - MBIA provides members with
comprehensive graphs of permits and home sales for each county in our area broken down by month.
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Maryland Building
Industry Association
11825 West Market Place
Fulton, MD 20759
301-776-MBIA (6242)
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Chief Executive Officer
Chief Lobbyist,
State Advocacy
Senior Vice President,
Government Affairs
Vice President,
Government Affairs
Vice President,
Government Affairs
Director,
Regulatory Affairs
Vice President,
Government Affairs
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WHO DO YOU KNOW?
Help us make a connection.
Tell us if you know a Federal or Maryland State legislator and how you know them. Are you a neighbor, friend, business associate or second cousin twice removed? We want to know. In the future, we may call on you to introduce us to that legislator. This can make a big difference when important legislation effecting the building industry comes our way.
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Together We Can Do More
Join MBIA Today
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The Maryland Building Industry Association has a government affairs staff of representing you and your interests in each county and at the state level from the Maryland State Builders Association and federally f
rom the National Association of Home Builders.
Add up the dollar value of our advocacy victories and you're talking real money - from $6,882 up to $61,000 per housing start depending on the jurisdiction. That's a big number, and a big step toward success.
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Look back through the monthly reports of issues impacting the home building industry.
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