THE HOME BUILDER
May 2024
Page Two
Spring Brings Plenty to Do for Dallas BA Advocacy The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info “In any moment of decision,
David Lehde Director of Government Affairs
make regulatory decisions be will - ing to hear the industry’s input and concerns when it comes to drafting ordinance and law that impact hous - ing. We appreciate our members being engaged. The primary, and likely munici - pal, election season is not over just yet. Run-off elections for key state repre - sentative and senate seats, as well as a U.S. House of Representatives seat in Fort Worth, are scheduled for May 28. Members should keep an eye out for information as those contests draw near. Another tool our industry has in the advocacy box is our national grassroots effort. In coordination with NAHB, the Dallas Builders Associa - tion will hold our Legislative Confer - ence meetings with our service area’s members of Congress on June 12. The meetings are held in Wash - ington, D.C. and coincide with NAHB’s Spring Leadership meetings that are the second full week of June. Dallas BA staff and members will take to the Hill to discuss the need for the federal government to let our industry do what it does, provide qual- ity housing, hopefully at a price point Americans can continue to afford. It is important that Washington does not further add to the challenges the residential construction and devel- opment sector already faces. This year’s meeting will be timely as the White House recently announced a new mandate that will dampen new construction and harm
impervious coverage in front yards. While the initial intent of the parking code has been billed as reducing some parking requirements, which is needed as the city is overparked in areas, it has evolved to include concepts that should not be required of multifamily, much less single-family developments. There is also concern about the path taken in City Hall regarding the maximum impervious coverage dis - cussion. Should the city push a one size fits all approach, there could be a dis - proportionate impact on smaller lots. With home ownership being one of more understood opportunities to develop a family’s wealth, it is im - portant to protect a family’s ability to have full enjoyment of their property. Dallas BA has been involved in stakeholder discussions and will continue to weigh in on both issues. The vernal calendar is not the only thing that has arrived in full bloom, so has this year’s election season. Coinciding with the industry’s focus on the primary season, which is still among us, are the region’s munici - pal elections. HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas, the action committee for members of the Association, has been engaged in both. Tensions and stakes are running high in Austin these days. And city halls are becoming increasingly active in issues that impact our members’ ability to provide the American dream. The HOMEPAC of TAB released its primary voting guide earlier this year, and HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas released recommendations for certain contested city council races coming as early voting started in late March. It is important that those who
housing affordability. The U.S. De - partment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have issued their final determination that will require all HUD and USDA financed newly constructed single- family homes to be built to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The 2021 IECC, if not amended at the state and local level, can add up to more than $30,0000 to the price of a new home. This is according to studies used by NAHB. Such a cost increase would be a major roadblock to the Biden Admin - istration’s own goal of getting more homes built. So, it is important that our mem - bers who can make it to Washington join us in our Legislative Conference meetings as we explain to Congress that the best way to lower inflation in home prices is to build more homes. The aforementioned mandate will be a top issue in those meetings. Our Legislative Conference meetings offer a unique opportunity to speak one-on- one with your members of Congress. Dallas BA members who want more information about our Legisla - tive Conference in Washington, oppor - tunities to participate in HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas, or any of our advocacy initiatives, can contact the Associa- tion’s Director of Government Affairs.
the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” — Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt The Dallas City Council voted on March 27 to approve the ordinance that updates development and building fees. This is the first increase in the fees in nearly a decade. The new fee schedule becomes effective May 1. Builders and developers are encour- aged to review the changes. The city’s original fee study proposed increases that were grossly higher. However, after advocacy from the Dallas Builders Association and allied stakeholders, a draft ordinance was brought before the City Council that actually saw many of those pro - posed fees reduced from the version that was presented in that study. While the City Council and Development Services department staff agreed that fees should not be increased to the levels that were pre- scribed by the study, there are still fees in the schedule that are higher than what we see elsewhere in the region for the same work. Moving forward, there should be a focus on addressing inefficiencies in the department. These related opera - tions are funded through an enterprise fund. Not only does that fund pull directly from builder fees, but that fund also has historically seen a surplus. If department costs have increased so significantly in such a short time, it raises the question of why? Next up on the regulatory agenda in Dallas are proposals related to the parking code and a maximum on
“Where flowers bloom, so does
hope.” – Lady Bird Johnson
The Home Builder is published monthly by the Dallas Builders Association at 5816 W. Plano Pkwy., Plano, Texas 75093. Telephone 972-931-4840. BARCIE VILCHES, Editor
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