ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
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Cluster Development Legislation Fails
After months of debate and amendments, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh's legislation to amend "cluster developments" into a new, more limited category called "Preservation Oriented Development." This new zoning type is a conditional use in most zoning classifications. On March 20th, the County Council voted 7-2 against the legislation.
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CHARLES COUNTY
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Update on proposed Development Tax
The Charles County Delegation in Annapolis has decided to table a proposed local bill that would have given the Board of County Commissioners the authority to levy an excise tax on new residential development.
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HARFORD COUNTY
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Septic Bill Passes
Councilman Chad Shrodes passes Council Bill 17-003,
which codifies Governor Hogan's regulatory change to allow traditional septic systems in non-Critical Areas of the County as opposed to Best Available Technology (BAT) septic systems saving $10,000-$15,000 per home. MBIA testified in support of this legislation on February 21st which passed unanimously on March 20th and went into effect immediately. Read the testimony >>>
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HOWARD COUNTY
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Property Rights
On March 6th, County Executive Allan Kittleman's Council Bill 16 failed. The bill would have restored property rights to 36 properties in the Rural West, that have major subdivision potential, changing their designations from Tier IV to Tier III. MBIA has long argued that these properties should be classified as Tier III and testified in support of this legislation. Read the testimony >>>
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
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Montgomery County Recreation Guidelines
The revised Recreation Guidelines were approved by the Planning Board on March 23, 2017 and will take effect on May 22, 2017. The Guidelines are available on line for review and the interactive web tool is "up and running". During the next 50 days before the Guidelines "go live", MNCPPC staff will finalize the print publication, conduct staff training, hold orientation sessions for the development industry and hold "on request" information sessions. The new Guidelines incorporated a number of suggestions and recommendations from industry professionals.
Impact Tax Adjustments in July
Members are reminded that since 2004, the Director of Finance (Montgomery County) has been required to review current impact fees and adjust said fees by the annual average increase or decrease in the published construction cost index, effective July 01, in odd-numbered years. This adjustment will include both transportation and school impact fees. Notwithstanding the recent impact tax rates increase (effective March 01, 2017) that accompanied the adoption of the 2016-202 Subdivision Staging Policy, the bi-annual adjustment will proceed. View the current rate >>>
Bethesda Sector Plan (and Bethesda Overlay Zone)
The PHED Committee wrapped up its deliberations on the Bethesda Sector Plan on March 27, to be followed up by two Council-level work sessions, starting mid-April, before calling for the final Council vote; changes include a park tax (to fund public sector acquisitions), 15 percent MPDUS to meet the Council's current commitment to increasing affordable housing, and an expanded transfer density area. Still to be finalized, and postponed to the Bethesda Overlay Zone work sessions, is an ever-growing list of items not limited to modifying the density transfer provisions, deliberations on limiting further parking requirements, and re-evaluating (if not out-right elimination) of the public benefit points for proximity to Metro.
In a step away from precedent, Park & Planning has noted that plans using the new Plan cannot be filed until the Overlay Zone is approved.
Annual Montgomery County Chapter Liaison Breakfast
The annual Chapter Breakfast will be held Wednesday April 19 commencing 7.30 am at The Radisson Hotel, 3 Research Court, Rockville. County Executive Ike Leggett, County Council members, and appointed officials/key agency staff will be at the Breakfast. Make your reservations now by contacting jmathis@marylandbuilders.org
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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
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Appointment Procedures for the Planning Commission
The Prince George's County Delegation has decided not take action on a bill that would repeal certain provisions of the law establishing the appointment procedures for a member of the MNCPPC from Prince George's County. The bill would have allowed the Prince George's County Council to appoint all five Commissioners to the Planning Board.
Proposed FY 2018 Budget
County Executive Rushern Baker presented his FY 2018 proposed operating and capital budgets to the County Council. The proposed FY 2018 budget for all operating funds is $3.84 billion, an increase of $130.7 million or 3.5 percent over the FY 2017 budget. The County Executive also announced that the county has a $4 million deficit, the smallest of his administration. For more information >>> |
ST MARYS COUNTY
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Development Impact Fee
St. Mary's County Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on April 4, 2017 at 6:30pm in the Chesapeake Building located at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown, Maryland to consider Amending Chapter 223 of the Code of St. Mary's County, MD to Repeal and Re-enact Provisions for a Development Impact Fee. Written comments, questions and suggestions may be submitted on or before April 11, 2017 to: Commissioners of St. Mary's County, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available in the Finance Department and
www.stmarysmd.com
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SOMERSET COUNTY
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Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan
The Somerset County Commissioners held a public hearing on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 to present to the public an Amendment to the 2008 Somerset County Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan. The amendment addresses upgrades to the Smith Island Sewerage System which would shut down the Tylerton Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and transmit the Tylerton raw sewage by submarine force main in Rhodes Gut for treatment at a newly constructed Ewell/Rhodes Point WWTP. The Commissioners approved the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to address the upgrades to the Smith Island Sewerage System in order to pursue grant funding.
Chapter Meeting
The Eastern Shore Builders will hold a Chapter Meeting on Monday, April 3, 2017 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Ocean Pines Library, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. Please RSVP to Joan Strang at
jstrang@marylandbuilders.org or call 410-845-0132.
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WICOMICO COUNTY
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Comprehensive Plan
The Wicomico County Council has approved their 2017 Wicomico County Comprehensive Plan and recent changes to its growth tier map. Tier II of the tier map has been revised to include three distinctions, Tier II-A, Tier II-B and Tier II-C. Tier II-A includes areas with planned public sewer systems. Tier II-B includes areas within a growth area with a pending amendment to expand sewer service areas. Tier II-C designates non-residential zoning districts. The Comprehensive Plan will now go to the Maryland Department of Planning for review. The state does not adopt the growth tier map or county comprehensive plan it will merely provide comments. If the state provides comments, county officials will need to hold a public hearing to share the remarks. It would be up to the Council to address the comments.
Infill Fee Moratorium
The City of Salisbury has passed an "Infill Fee Moratorium" for a period of one-year on building permits, plan review, plumbing permit, mechanical permit, capacity and central line fees for the construction of homeowner occupied single family dwellings built on infill lots in R-5, R-8 and R-10 residential zoned districts. The resolution also applies to certain established subdivisions abandoned due to the poor economic climate including Heritage, Aydelotte Farm PRD #7, Parcel C Residential Detached Dwellings, Parson Lake Phase I and Sassafras Meadows. The owner must occupy the property for 10 years before all fees will be waived.
Buy a Home, Build a Business
The City of Salisbury announced the Buy a Home, Build a Business program, a partnership between the city, Salisbury University and Salisbury Neighborhood Housing. The program offers up to $5,000 of down payment and closing cost assistance to recent Salisbury University graduates hoping to start and headquarter a business in the city of Salisbury. It also will offer legal guidance, business development advice and startup funds to young entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground.
The Wicomico County Council has established two top priority goals for 2017:
County Water/Sewer Plan
Economic Development (development of airport campus)
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WORCESTER COUNTY
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Poultry Farm Legislation
The Worcester County Commissioners have scheduled a public hearing on April 4, 2017 to consider an amendment to strengthen the county's regulation of poultry farms. The legislation would determine the level of vegetative buffering required, eliminates the sliding density scale for poultry houses allowed on a particular parcel from 12 to 8 and considers three sizes of poultry farms: small, medium and large. The designations are based upon the number of poultry houses with a gross floor area of 44,000 square feet or less. Small operations are defined as containing not more than one house, medium from two to four houses and large from four to eight poultry houses on a parcel. The legislation received a favorable recommendation from the Worcester County Planning Commission.
Grant Requests
The Worcester County Commissioners met with representatives from the towns of Pocomoke City, Snow Hill, Berlin, and Ocean City, as well as the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) regarding their Fiscal Year 2018 grant requests from the County. The following has been requested:
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Pocomoke City $l,702,663
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Snow Hill $1,593,345
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Berlin $2,041,020
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Ocean Pines $1,369,514
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Ocean City $22,312,288
The towns grant requests for FY18 will be considered as the County Commissioners develop their FY18 budget. Currently the budget is $6.7 million short before review.
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OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS
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Waters of the United States Rollback
President Trump has issued an Executive Order that directed EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the process of rescinding or revising the "waters of the United States" rule. The controversial rule would have extended the areas in which home builders are required to get permits.
Congress Strikes Down OSHA Recordkeeping Rule
On March 22, the Senate passed legislation approved by the House earlier this month that will force the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to reverse a recent recordkeeping rule that went into effect on Jan. 18 and that would needlessly harm small employers. The rule extended the six-month statute of limitations on recordkeeping violations to five years. This is a victory for NAHB, who along with other industry groups worked with the Congress to roll back this regulation.
New Water Rating Index' Guidelines Open for Comments
RESNET and the International Code Council have partnered to develop the WER Index. It will rate a home's efficiency in water use in the same way that the HERS index measures a property's energy performance.
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Acronym Glossary
Acronyms are often used as time saving, shorthand ways to communicate lengthy titles or basic concepts. This glossary provides a quick reference to the terms, acronyms and abbreviations commonly used in this industry.
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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
Vice President,
Government Affairs
Vice President,
Government Affairs
Director,
Regulatory Affairs
Vice President,
Government Affairs
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WHO DO YOU KNOW?
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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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