MARYLAND 

   BALTIMORE CITY

 CHARLES COUNTY

 DORCHESTER COUNTY

   HOWARD COUNTY

   MONTGOMERY COUNTY

County Council Begins Work on Montgomery County's Capital Budget

On February 12, Council Committees began working on the County's capital budget. The County Executive's recommended six-year CIP totals $4.521 billion. Staff reports for the Parks Department, DHCA, Economic Development and more can be viewed here:

*  Montgomery Parks
*  Department of Recreation
*  Housing Opportunities Commission
*  Housing and Community Affairs
*  General Government-Economic Development projects

County Council Introduces Bill to Expand Solar Production

On February 13, Councilmember Hucker introduced ZTA 18-01, Solar Collection System - Standards. The ZTA would revise the Solar Collection System use standards to allow larger facilities in Rural Residential, Residential, Commercial/Residential, Employment, and Industrial zones.  The intent is to offer the benefit of solar to those who cannot, or prefer not to, install solar panels on their homes. These projects enable individuals, businesses or organizations to purchase or lease a share in a community solar project. The ZTA includes standards to prevent glare and to buffer the facility from surrounding land uses. Maryland has a statewide goal to reach 25 percent renewable energy sources by 2020. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 3 at 1:30 pm.

Public Hearing on Subdivision Regulation Amendment to Allow Minor Subdivisions - Ownership Units

On Tuesday, February 27 the Council will hold a public hearing on Councilmember Floreen's SRA 18-01, Minor Subdivisions - Ownership Units. The subdivision code only allows the creation of an ownership unit on a record plat covered by an approved site plan. SRA 18-01 would also allow the creation of these units when the property described in a plat was subject to conditional use or special exception approval.

A PHED committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 12, 2018.

MPDU Bills Head to PHED Committee

Both Councilmember Floreen's and Council President Reimer's MPDU bills will be discussed in the PHED Committee beginning in March. There are three work sessions scheduled for Bill 34-17 and two for Bill 38-17. The Floreen MPDU Bill (34-17) will be discussed on the March 5th, 12th and 19th; Reimer's bill will be discussed on March 12th and March 19th. MBIA Chapter leadership provided testimony on both bills and has worked closely with sponsors on suggested language and changes to the proposed legislation. 

  PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Residential Driveways

Department of Permitting Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) has issued Techno-Gram (001-2018) concerning residential driveways with the purpose of establishing standards for residential three-car front entry garage driveways and drive aprons and to clarify residential driveway spacing requirements (see attachment).

 

Roadway Improvement in SHA Right of Way

Department of Permitting Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) has issued Techno-Gram (002-2018) concerning roadway improvement in SHA right of way.  The purpose is to clarify county permits that are required for road improvements projects in the SHA right of way (see attachment).

 

New Requirement for Tenant Build-out ePlan Application Submittals

Effective April 1, 2018, applications and plans for all tenant build-out commercial building projects that are 10,000 square feet of gross floor area and above will be required to be submitted through the County's electronic plans (ePlan) review system.  To complete the building permit application CLICK HERE  and enter the information into the County's permitting system.  Select the ePlan option on the application, so the plans can be submitted for review.

  WICOMICO COUNTY

Introduction of Legislative Bill No. 2018-3

The Wicomico County Council introduced Bill No. 2018-3 that would amend the Wicomico County Official Zoning Map.  It will rezone property consisting of 4.12 acres, more or less, situated in the Salisbury Election District, Wicomico County, Maryland, bounded on the northerly side of Nanticoke Road, westerly side of Kenney Drive, and southerly side of Old Quantico Road. 

The Eastern Shore Builders will hold a Chapter Conference Call to update members on local and state legislation and progress on the apprenticeship program and construction class.  Time and date to be announced.  If you have any questions, please contact Joan Strang at [email protected] or call 410-845-0132. 

  WORCESTER COUNTY

Resolution No. 18-1 - 2017 National Electrical Code with Local Amendments

The Worcester County Commissioners have passed Resolution No. 18-1 to adopt the 2017 National Electrical Code with Local Amendments.  The resolution will take effect June 1, 2018.

 

Resolution No. 2018-1 a Resolution in Opposition to Permanent Offshore Wind Turbines Visible From Ocean City

The Town of Ocean City formalized its objection to offshore wind energy turbines within view of the resort's coastline.  The town is asking for the turbines to be placed 26 miles off its coast.  The current plan places the turbines in phase one 17 miles off the coast, phase two 15 miles off the coast and phase three 13 miles off the coast.  The town's elected officials do not oppose the proposed wind farms, but merely the placement of turbines within view of the Ocean City coast. 

 

Ocean City Tax Differential

Worcester County asked the Worcester County Circuit Court in Snow Hill to extend the deadline for the suit filed against them by the Town of Ocean City seeking a declaratory judgement regarding the resort's right to a split tax schedule that would levy one property rate on resort property owners and another on county properties.  The court has extended the deadline until Tuesday, March 26, 2018.

The Eastern Shore Builders will hold a Chapter Conference Call to update members on local and state legislation and progress on the apprenticeship program and construction class.  Time and date to be announced.  If you have any questions, please contact Joan Strang at [email protected] or call 410-845-0132. 

  OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS

Largely due to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. Commerce Department and related negotiations grinding to a halt, prices for softwood lumber imports have skyrocketed 30 percent since Hurricane Harvey hit last summer. Unlike lumber, OSB prices had been steadily declining in recent months. However, those declines came to an end last week when prices jumped 6 percent. The good news is that those increases are expected to be short-lived. Canada has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization as well as the NAFTA arbitration panel, accusing the U.S. of violating international trade rules. According to NAHB news, the most likely path forward is lengthy litigation during which lumber prices remain high.

Congress Approves 2-Year Budget Framework

On February 9th, Congress approved a two-year budget framework to keep the government running following a brief shutdown that began at midnight and lasted less than six hours. The accord includes massive increases to defense and discretionary spending, as well as key housing provisions. Lawmakers now have until March 23 to pass a long-term spending package that will fund the government through the end of the current fiscal year, which expires Sept. 30. Congress would have to negotiate a separate measure to fund the government through fiscal 2019.

The agreement means that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will be extended only through March 23. NAHB is working with lawmakers to include the NFIP in any long-term spending package.  In addition, the budget package includes the following Energy and Home Owner Tax Credits provisions that are positive for housing:

As part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Congress retroactively extended a number of expired energy and home owner tax provisions. The following tax credits were reinstated on a retroactive basis for 2017 only:

Congress also included a fix NAHB had sought for the Section 25D tax credit, which offers a 30% tax creditfor the installation of qualifying alternative energy equipment. In 2016, Congress extended the 25D tax credit but limited its use to solar technology only.

This bill restores the ability to claim the 25D tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, and fuel cell property.  Unlike the credits listed above, the Section 25D tax credit remains in effect for 2018 under a phase-out regime. Starting in 2022, this credit is scheduled to expire.

FHFA Establishes Affordable Housing Goals for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced February 6th that it has published a final rule establishing single-family and multifamily housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2018 through 2020.  Click here to view the 2018-2020 single-family and multifamily benchmarks. The final rule will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

NAHB Seeks Nationwide Injunction on WOTUS Rule

After the Supreme Court's January decision holding that only the district courts have jurisdiction to hear challenges to the 2015 WOTUS rule, NAHB and its coalition partners believed it was imperative to obtain a nationwide injunction. Therefore, NAHB joined a broad coalition of farmers, miners and foresters Feb. 7 to ask the U.S. District Court in Texas to issue a nationwide preliminary injunction prohibiting the federal government from enforcing or implementing the rule, which defines the extent of the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers' regulatory jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The Trump Administration continues its efforts to rescind the 2015 WOTUS rule and replace it with a new definition that will seek to provide needed clarity and narrow federal CWA authority. On January 31st, the EPA announced a two-year delay of the rule to give the agency more time to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replace it with definitions that provide clarity for those that are regulated by the Clean Water Act.