THE HOME BUILDER
November 2024
Page Two
The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info
David Lehde Director of Government Affairs
2025 Starts Sooner Than You Think
Members interested in partici- pating should contact the Director of Government Affairs or visit https:// dallasbuilders.org/advocacy/. Rally Day — Dallas BA’s Grass- roots Advocacy Event in Austin Rally Day 2025, the event that allows our members to not only have needed facetime with state legislators, but also gives an up-close view of our state government in process, is sched- uled for Feb. 11, 2025. This is our grassroots day at the State Capitol. As members of the housing and development industry, it is important that we are all aware of any issues that would be detrimental to our industry, especially those issues we as a group have the ability to address be- fore they become requirements or law. Rally Day will provide an opportunity for us to deliver the message to our legislators that housing is important to Texas. As their constituent, your voice carries weight with these policy mak- ers. Your knowledge of your business and your insight on how regulation will impact it provides the real-world view that the Texas Legislature should keep in mind. A personal visit to our area’s state senators and representatives can make a difference. Rally Day is the perfect event for providing reinforcement to our representatives regarding impor- tant issues they will be addressing in the following few months. The day also offers a great oppor - tunity for networking and fellowship with other Dallas BA members. As Rally Day 2025 gets closer on
the calendar, members will be provid- ed updates on event logistics and how to participate, as well as information on key policy issues. Partner opportunities are avail- able and needed. For more immediate information on Rally Day, contact the Director of Government Affairs at David.Lehde@DallasBuilders.com. The City of Denton is well into the discussion regarding updates to the municipality’s water and wastewater impact fees. The City Council was presented the capital improvements study prior to fall. Both water and wastewater im- On the Local Horizon pact fees are assessed per designated service areas. While maximum assess- able water impact fees show a decrease in one service area, they are proposed for significant increases in the others. The maximum assessable impact fees for wastewater show an increase that more than doubles in one service area and more than triples in the others. While the final study recom- mendations and fee proposals have been presented to the city’s capital improvements advisory committee, the item is not expected to be brought before the City Council in early 2025. However, members who are cur- rently building or plan to develop and or building in Denton are urged to review the proposed fees and contact the Director of Government Affairs with concerns or comments. Dallas BA will continue to weigh in with city officials. In the City of Dallas, with the ForwardDallas 2.0 plan having met
approval, the attention now shifts back to the city’s amending of the parking code. The ordinance has a goal preventing Dallas from being “over parked.” However, the proposed language includes a requirement for a Transpor- tation Demand Management Plan for residential projects of 20 units or more. Just drafting the plan itself can impact project costs. Dallas BA is also concerned about other related caveats that could impact multifamily and single-family developments. At the regional level, the Region- al Codes Coordinating Committee, of which Dallas BA is a voting member, is progressing through its review of the 2024 I-Codes. This includes the International Residential Code, the International Energy Conservation Code, and the International Fire Code. The RCCC process results in a package of rec- ommended amendments that many area municipalities agree with when adopting new code cycles. The package is likely to be com- pleted by early 2025. Then various cities around the DFW region will begin their adoption and updating of their local codes. These are just some of the policy areas where the Dallas Builders As- sociation engaged on behalf of the home building industry. Members are encouraged to join us for our monthly Government Relations Committee meetings to hear more. And remember to keep an eye out for upcoming updates on Rally Day 2025.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin As we come out of one election season, and head into another election season and the upcoming state legisla- tive session, the advocacy work for a successful 2025 begins now. HOMEPAC of Greater Dal- las, the political action committee for members of the Dallas BA, has opened registration for its 2025 cycle. HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas helps support pro-housing candidates and incumbents for key city, county and selected state level offices. A core mission of the Dallas Registration Now Open for HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas Builders Association is advocacy. Successes have included needed code changes, favorable local tax structure, more efficient permitting processes and protection from harmful ordi- nances and regulations. As we head into the winter and spring months of 2025, we will be right back into election season, this time for multiple key municipal seats across the Dallas BA service area. In fact, we are pretty much in that season as candidates and incumbents are already mentioning their campaigns. HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas provides another opportunity for As- sociation members to participate in the Association’s advocacy efforts.
METROPLEX DESIGN SOURCE FOR EXCITING, INNOVATIVE RESIDENTIAL PLANS 972-783-4660
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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