THE HOME BUILDER
February 2023
Page Two
The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info
David Lehde Director of Government Affairs
On With the Show Building codes and development fees are sharing center stage with the Texas Legislature this winter and Association members should pay close attention as things are moving fast and there will be no intermission. In Denton, the home building in-
residential and commercial settings and funding from automotive manufacturers and governmental agencies as opposed to current and prospective residents. Dallas also recently approved their adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code with local amendments, including many of the recommendations from the RCCC. This winter and spring the home building industry must also remain aware that the curtain has gone up on statewide government business in Austin. The 88th Texas Legislative session gaveled in on Jan. 10 and there is already a long list of proposed legislation that requires the at- tention and advocacy efforts of the Texas Association of Builders and Dallas BA. Members are encouraged to keep an eye out for alerts from TAB as the session progresses. TAB’s Legislative Line has returned and will provide timely updates
tion of the 2021 International Code Council building codes, including the Residential Code (IRC) and the Energy Conservation Code (IECC), as well as the 2020 National Electric Code. The adoption made use of local amendments, including the recom- mendations of the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Codes Coordinating Committee (RCCC). Dallas BA is a voting member of the RCCC and, along with other stakeholders, worked to provide amendments that help the codes focus on health and safety, while working to avoid needless requirements and cost increases. For example, Dallas BA successfully obtained a regional amend- ment recommendation to the IFC that adjusts the allowed height of a building in which NFPA 13R multifamily sprinkler systems can still be used, protecting against a needless cost increase that would result from requiring a full NFPA 13 system. The amendment corrects an unintended consequence that occurred in the drafting of the 2021 cycle codes and is supported by stakeholders on both sides. Dallas BA also worked for an amendment to address a pool’s proximity to a home founda- tion to provide for a safer installation, to safeguard against after sale warranty and insurance issues. The new Prosper codes go into effect on April 1. The City of Dallas is continuing their path towards adoption of the 2021 ICC codes, and they are considering a local amendment that goes too far by mandating an electric vehicle ready space in residential construction. Dallas BA went on record in December, offering that such an after-market addition would more appropriately be incorporated by those residents who actually choose to make the substantial up-front purchase for an electric vehicle. It is not appropriate for the housing industry to supplement the automotive industry, nor does it make sense to force homeowners to pay for a product that most of them won’t use and won’t really contribute to the home’s life safety or operational efficiency. Dallas BA has encouraged Dallas to, instead, exam- ine incentives related to such products in
on bills that directly impact our industry. Another grassroots advocacy tool of the Association is Rally Day. On March 29, Dallas BA members have the opportunity to visit the Texas Capitol to meet with our service area’s State Senators and Repre- sentatives in the Texas Legislature. This is part of a statewide effort where we will join HBAs from around the state to impress upon the legislature the economic benefit home building brings to Texas and the need for a regulatory environment that protects the availability of housing. Registration for Rally Day is now open and we encourage members to turn in their registration form as soon as possible so we can ensure logistical success for this important event. Partnerships are also available and needed. For registration and partner forms, contact the Director of Government Af- fairs at David.Lehde@DallasBuilders.com.
dustry and other area small businesses alike are watching closely as city council members consider amending the roadway impact fee ordinance. The municipality’s updated impact fee study was released in December and the city council has instruct- ed city staff to set public hearings for both the roadway impact fee study and impact fee ordinance to be held on March 7. The fee was originally adopted in 2016 with a rate per rooftop that equated to 20% of the maximum assessable fee allowed, as calculated in the impact fee study for 2016. The updated calculation, per the 2022 study, increases the maximum allowable fee from $9,808 for the city- wide average per single-family home to $20,538. Leading up to the March public hearing, council members will evaluate whether to set the rate actually collected per home at 30%, 40%, 50% or some other percentage of that updated maximum fee. Final input from stakeholders, including the general public, will be provided via official comments during the public hear - ing, with council members likely receiving input leading up to the meeting. Dallas BA has already weighed in with preliminary concerns regarding what are potentially over-estimates in roadway costing that have a direct impact on the calculation of the maximum allowable fee. The Association has also spoken with multiple council members regarding the current economic environment and the negative impact that increasing the fees too high can have, especially when combined with the challenges of material costs and mortgage rates. Just last year, Denton adopted increases to the city’s park dedi- cation, fee-in-lieu and park development fee ordinance. We will continue to advocate for a reasonable approach that protects attain- able housing. Prosper recently approved its adop-
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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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