Administration Ramps Up Efforts On Housing Choices Legislation
In an effort to focus the need for housing production legislation, the Baker-Polito Administration has been rolling out a campaign to press for the adoption of An Act to Promote Housing Choices legislation (H. 3507) which was filed by the Governor this past February. Most recently, six former state officials who served in the Romney, Patrick and Baker Administrations joined Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Janelle Chan to endorse the so-called “Housing Choices” legislation.
H. 3507 would amend the Zoning Act to enable cities and towns to adopt pro-housing zoning with a mere majority vote by city council or town meeting rather than the current 2/3rds supermajority. Examples of pro-housing zoning could include the local adoption of ordinances and bylaws that permit multifamily housing by right, creation of Smart Growth and Starter Home Housing Districts, and reductions in dimensional and density regulations governing residential development. “Governor Baker and I believe strongly in encouraging best practices through targeted tools like those in the Housing Choice legislation,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito at the September 4 event. “The Commonwealth is at a critical juncture when it comes to housing, as production has dropped below half of what it was in the 1980s and our administration is focused on doing all we can to support communities seeking to address local demand by enabling them to produce the housing they need.” On September 9, Governor Baker was interviewed on WGBH Radio where he stated that “…I think the bill we have before the legislature
has the support
of the home builders, the real estate folks, the land use folks, the metropolitan area planning councils, big chunks of the environmental community and the affordable housing advocates. I mean, everybody gets the fact that we need to produce a lot more housing. By the way, the Mass, Municipal Association has endorsed this and the metro mayors have endorsed it. Almost all local officials have endorsed it as well, because it gives them tools to do things like rethink their downtowns. A link to the WGBH interview can be found
here. A copy of the Housing Choices legislation can be found
here.
|
|
Utilities Subcommittee Meets with National Grid
The Utilities Subcommittee of the HBRAMA Government Affairs Committee met with National Grid on Tuesday, September 10
th
at the Tewksbury Country Club. The focus of the meeting was to determine if progress can be made on issues related to natural gas installations. Some of the topics discussed were:
- Engineering and cost estimates based on preliminary designs (we formerly had to wait for recorded, approved plans);
- Early site meetings with National Grid personnel to discuss conditions and issues;
- Resource allocation after the lock-out and moratorium to ensure timely completion of work;
- Consideration of the provision of gas lines before street paving; and
- Working with the HBRAMA to develop a web portal (like has been done on the electric side) to track jobs and performance.
Noted during the meeting was substantial progress with National Grid Electric. In addition to the new web portal, the new agreement with Verizon on Pole Relocations (designed with the recommendations of our Utility Subcommittee), has been a major positive for developers. In addition, service levels and communication have seen significant improvement.
The Subcommittee’s efforts have been coordinated with the Department of Public Utilities Interconnection Working Group, which was established to improve the working relationship between utilities and developers. The meeting with National Grid is a direct result of the Interconnection Working Group meeting in June where HBRAMA noted that a number of these issues need resolution.
Many thanks to members Marc Ginsburg, Brian Lussier, Jeff Rhuda, Scott Miccile, Kevin O’Brien, and Ben Fierro for their commitment to many meetings to improve service with National Grid. A special thanks to Subcommittee Co-Chairs, Mark Leff and Russ Leonard, for providing the above-referenced update, and for their efforts in continuing to press the utility companies and the DPU in efforts to improve communications, consistency, efficiency and cost-effectiveness with our homebuilding industry.
|
|
New DigSafe Regulations Effective as of July 18, 2019
.
The Department of Public Utilities has adopted
Emergency Dig Safe Regulations, 220 CMR 99.00
. According to the DPU, the amendments to these regulations are designed primarily to implement the federal minimum safety requirements for damage prevention, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Parts 192 and 196. The DPU also adopted changes to
220 CMR 99.00
for the following reasons: (a) to clarify the obligations of both excavators and utility companies; (b) to establish more efficient procedures for the enforcement of violations; and (c) to correct minor errors and delete outdated, duplicative, or unnecessary information. Copies of the Order opening this rulemaking and the new regulations, in both redlined and clean versions are
here
.
The new regulations took effect on July 18, 2019, and apply to all utility companies and anyone who calls Dig Safe, Inc. or performs an excavation in Massachusetts.
|
|
Annual Installation Scheduled for October 2
The October 2
nd
Installation and Awards Banquet marks the start of the final few months of a very successful term under the leadership of HBRAMA President, Hunter Marosits, and his team including President Elect, Matt Anderson, Vice President, Emerson Clauss III, Vice President / Treasurer, Jeffrey Brem, P.E., Secretary, Robin Ward, and Immediate Past President, Gary Campbell. We also appreciate the incredible support and tireless efforts of HBRAMA Executive Officer Joe Landers who is the glue which keeps our Association moving forward in a positive direction. We very much thank Hunter and his team for their dedication to the Association and our industry, and we look forward to continued success under President Elect, Matt Anderson who will be installed on October 2
nd
and will begin his term on January 1
st
, 2020.
We would also like to recognize this year's
Legends of the Industry:
Scott Colwell,
Owner, Hoover Realty Trust & Colwell Homes, BRAGB
Mike Duffany,
Founder & Owner, M. Duffany Builders, HBRACC
Michael E. McDowell,
CBO, President, Total Construction, Total Real Estate & The Building Inspector of America, HBRAWM
John T. Smolak,
Partner & Co-Founder, Smolak & Vaughan LLP, Attorneys at Law, NEBA
|
|
Georgia Judge Sinks Obama-Era WOTUS Rule
As noted in August 22, 2019 Edition of NAHB Now, and as an important win for NAHB and the housing community, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia on August 21 filed a carefully worded 85-page decision that dismantles the Obama-era 2015
waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. This is the first court to find that the substance of the 2015 rule violates the Clean Water Act (CWA). NAHB, with its coalition, intervened in this case in 2018 to support the 11 states that initially filed suit in Georgia. The court decision remands the 2015 WOTUS rule back to the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fix it. However, the court did not vacate the rule. As a result, the Obama-era WOTUS rule remains in effect in 22 states including Massachusetts) and the District of Columbia, and the previous regulations issued in 1986 are in effect in the remaining 28 states. The agencies are working to repeal the 2015 WOTUS rule and have proposed a new WOTUS rule that NAHB expects will be finalized by the end of the year. More information on the case can be found
here.
|
|
|
|
Looking for continuing education hours for your CSL license? The new HBRAMA CSL education website features the latest in online and in-person educational offerings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
