Federal Government Affairs Update from NAHB >>>
  MARYLAND MD
New Laws Affecting the Building Industry Starting October 1st
   BALTIMORE CITYcity
Mayor and City Council Strike Deal to Fund Affordable Housing, Raise Transfer and Recordation Taxes
Over MBIA's objections, Mayor Catherine Pugh and Council President Jack Young, struck a deal with affordable housing advocates to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund at roughly $20 million per year using a combination of tax increases, bond spending and general fund commitments. The agreement raises the Transfer Tax .6% and the Recordation Tax .15% on transactions over $1 million. The MBIA predicts these increases will drive down property sale prices resulting in lower property tax assessments, ultimately costing the City taxable revenue. The MBIA is disappointed in this deal, which was memorialized in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Mayor and the bill's proponents on Wednesday September 26th prior to a sham public hearing in the City Council on September 27th . The MBIA expects this bill will move forward immediately after the public hearing.
 
City Set to Increase Traffic Mitigation Fees Drastically
The City of Baltimore has proposed a very significant increase in traffic mitigation fees in the City's five traffic mitigation zones phased in over 5 years as shown on the table below. At this time, this Executive action is on hold as a result of MBIA objections, but the MBIA believes it may move forward in the future over MBIA objections. If the traffic mitigation fees will impact projects of interest to you, please  contact the City Administration as well as members of the Board of Estimates.  If you have personal relationships with any of the officials, MBIA is asking you to call your contacts and urge them to reject this massive tax increase.

 BALTIMORE COUNTYbaltco
Stormwater Management Grandfathering Repeal Bill Withdrawn Due to MBIA Objections
Councilwoman Cathy Bevins' Bill 68-18 which would have repealed previously approved grandfathering for structural stormwater management facilities was withdrawn on September 25th due to MBIA objections and advocacy. This legislation would have set a bad precedent where predictably is lost if a councilperson did not like a specific project.
   CALVERT COUNTYcal
PUBLIC HEARING: Budget Adjustment - Road Drainage Project - Revised Hearing Date
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing to consider and receive comments on budget adjustment #015 to adjust the Capital Projects Fund in order to increase appropriations for the Road Drainage project for reasons set forth in the draft Resolution.
   CHARLES COUNTYcharles
EnerGov Implementation
The Department of Planning Growth and Management is scheduled to go live with their new EnerGov system on October 22, 2018. Immediately preceding the go live date, the PGM counter will be closed on October 17-19. During those dates when data is being converted, neither the old tracking nor the new EnerGov system will be available. PGM staff said that if you have a submittal, please try to get it in prior to October 16.  During a recent Charles County Chapter meeting, PGM staff advised the committee that they will be setting up a meeting for members of MBIA to meet with their EnerGov project managers.  The date is still to be determined, but PGM staff indicated that it would be in the month of October 2018.
   DORCHESTER COUNTYdor
Comprehensive Plan
Dorchester County held three public workshops throughout the County in late July. Roughly 50 participants attended the workshops. The next phase of the Comprehensive Plan is the Public Opinion Survey. All of the questions on the survey are based off of the feedback from the Public Workshops in July. Once the survey is reviewed, chapters will be drafted. A public hearing on the draft will be held in the winter of 2019. Plan preparation will begin spring 2019.
   MONTGOMERY COUNTYmontcoun
Update on Bill 10-17, Recordation Tax
The Recordation Tax Bill is due to expire on October 4, 2018. The committee work session scheduled for September 27th was postponed and has not been rescheduled. If the Council does not take action on this bill by October 4th, the bill will become invalid.
 
PHED Committee Approves ZTA 18-06, MPDU-Bonus Density
On Tuesday, September 25th, the PHED Committee recommended approval of ZTA 18-06. MBIA members and other stakeholders worked collaboratively with DHCA, MNCPPC and Councilmember Floreen to put forth a proposal that is beneficial for both the County and the Industry.
The Committee approved the following:

1) increased bonus densities above 15 percent MPDUs in 2 additional steps; the text for each zone  would be amended to:  The density allowed for any application that includes more than 12.5 percent MPDUs,  qualified under Chapter 25A and rounded up to the nearest whole number of  units, equals the { mapped density or the density allowed under the standard  density of the zone} plus an increase of:
   a. 88 percent for each .1% increase in MPDUs above 12.5 percent up to and including 15 percent;
   b. 22 percent plus .16 percent for each .1 percent increase in MPDUs above 15 percent up to and  including 20 percent; or
   c. 30 percent plus .1 percent for each .1 percent increase in MPDUs above 20 percent.

2) deleting the maximum density bonus in all zones;

3) allowing public benefit points for all projects with more than 12.5 percent MPDUs, even when  more MPDUs were required by law.

In the Bethesda Overlay Zone, residential density may be increased above the mapped residential FAR by 17.5 percent plus 0.1 percent for each 0.1 percent increase in MPDUs above 17.5 percent.
 
PHED Committee recommends Approval of new Fire Safety Fees
The goal of the regulation is to simplify the old fee structure based on hourly rates by changing to flat rates. It also eliminates a 10% automation fee. The fee structure fully integrates the Fire Code Compliance Section with DPS 's fee processing and data management. The proposed fee structure also eliminates the current invoice method to collect fees.
  PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTYprinceg
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Update
The Prince George's County Council introduced three (3) bills that could make the Zoning Rewrite a reality. The County Council received public comments and made amendments to both CB-13-2018 (Subtitle 27 of the County Code that would  replace the Zoning Ordinance of Prince George's County) and CB-15-2018 (Subtitle 24 of the County Code that would replace the Subdivision Regulations of Prince George's County). The County Council also introduced CB-14-2018, a bill that would establish procedures for a Countywide (zoning) Map Amendment. All three (3) bills are set for a public hearing scheduled for October 23rd. The Prince George's County Chapter of MBIA provided the County Council with several amendments to the proposed omnibus package. In addition, the County Council added a fourth piece of legislation to Zoning Rewrite package CB-65-2018, a bill that would replace the Landscape Manual. This bill has also been set for a public hearing on October 23rd.  Review the proposed ordinance changes and the amendments >>>
  WICOMICO COUNTYwicomico
Revenue Cap Debate
A forum for Wicomico County Council candidates was held on September 20, 2018. A lengthy discussion was held on the Revenue Cap. Three-quarters of the candidates felt there should be change. If nothing else, a different tool should be used. The rest of the candidates felt the Revenue Cap should remain. This is proving to be a critical issue in the 2018 election.
  WORCESTER COUNTYworchester
Mystic Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Expansion
In order to accommodate economic growth in the Mystic Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant area, the Worcester County Commissioners directed staff to move forward with exploring the possible expansion of the Mystic Harbour WWTP, including investigating the potential of certain sites for effluent disposal to facilitate the expansion by 150,000 GPD to meet the future need for public sewer service in this service area. It is estimated that the current EDUs will be allocated within the next five to six years. The estimated cost of expanding the WWTP is $2.5 million.
 
New FEMA Line
A new FEMA Line between the v zone and a zone has been placed on the flood map in Ocean City. This line is known as the "limited wave action" and is contained in the 2015 International Code, Appendix G. Ocean City has not adopted this part of the 2015 International Code and builders are not required to follow it. However, Worcester County has adopted this part of the International Code. Worcester County has also included this requirement in their Flood Plan Ordinance for the past 2½ years. This must be followed by builders in Worcester County. Areas that are affected in Worcester County are Snug Harbor and South Point.
The new 2018 International Code is out and the "limited wave action" is no longer in an appendix, but in the main body of the code. Once the state adopts this code, which they are expected to do in January, the towns and municipalities will have 1 year to adopt.
 
Town of Berlin Election
The Town of Berlin 2018 election has be canceled due to lack of candidate competition. Troy Purnell, District 1, Dean Burrell, District 2, and Thom Gulyas, At-Large have all been automatically declared the winners and will be sworn in at the regular town council meeting on October 22, 2018.
 
District 38 Senate Race
A Senate Forum will be held for Senator Jim Mathias and Representative Mary Beth Carozza on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Salisbury University. This debate will give their constituents the opportunity to hear where each stands on the issues facing District 38.
OCTOBER 2018
IN THIS ISSUE
Maryland Dorchester County 
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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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