THE HOME BUILDER
January 2023
Page Two
The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info
David Lehde Director of Government Affairs
The New Year Brings Increased Pace in Advocacy The state legislature gavels in its 88th multifamily as well.
time for Dallas BA members to begin plan- ning for Rally Day, the Association’s major grassroots advocacy event for state policy. On March 29, Dallas BA members will have the opportunity to visit the Texas Capitol to meet with our service area’s State Senators and Representatives 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. The event is coordinated with the Texas Association of Builders (TAB). Registration will open soon, and partner - ships are available. The event is always a fun time for our members and another opportunity for networking. Another opportunity to participate in
advocacy is through HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas, the non-partisan action committee open to Association members. In addition to the local, state, and federal advocacy in which Dallas BA will engage this year, we must also make the industry’s voice heard in the upcoming Spring municipal elections. There are kay cities with seats up for election this May, including the entire Dallas City Council. Members who are interested in participating can contact the Director of Government Affairs. We appreciate the participation of our membership in our government relations activities. Obviously, with so much going on just in the first half of 2023, the new year brings a lot of opportunity. Members who have questions about any of the items mentioned here, or other Dallas BA advocacy efforts, can contact the Director of Government Affairs at David. Lehde@DallasBuilders.com.
Session on Jan. 10. With it comes issues on which the Association and our members will need to be heard. And that comes in addition to the local advocacy efforts that take no break. Dallas BA has continued its outreach in Denton regarding the city’s update of roadway impact fees. Dallas BA and the development community received a copy of the city’s impact fee study in early December. The study shows a more than doubling of the maximum allowable fee. To be clear, that fee is not what is assessed per rooftop, however, a percentage of that maximum is what cities will ultimately set as the fee per home. Currently, that collection rate is $2,000 per dwelling unit for single-family. That is based on the current maximum allowable roadway impact fees that range from $6,174 to $10,980. The higher the demand for infrastruc- ture projects, the higher the maximum fee. In the previous adoption, the City Council approved the rate at about 20%. Recent discussions at city hall have heard propos- als for collection rates that are 30 to 50%, and even 75% of the maximum allowable roadway fee. Dallas BA, and some council members, and voiced concern about raising the fee to high, as it will impact housing attainability. The City of Dallas is in the process of drafting their adoption of the 2021 International Code Council building codes, including the Residential Code (IRC), Building Code (IBC) and Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with local amendments. Included in the recent draft that has moved through the city’s Building Inspections Advisor, Examining and Appeals Board are provisions that call for EV Ready and Future Solar Electric panel space. The EV Ready Space provision man - dates that One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses have a designated parking space that is to be provided with a higher volt dedicated branch circuit for the use of electric vehicle charging stations. There are requirements related to
This provision is not a requirement in the 2021 I-codes, rather it is an option listed in the appendix. In 2021, the Regional Codes Coordinating Committee (RCCC) voted down an attempt to make it a rec - ommended amendment in the NCTCOG regional amendments. Also added via amendment are Solar Ready provisions that require electrical panel space to be reserved for the installa- tion of a dual pole circuit breaker for future solar use. This was also not a requirement in the 2021 I-codes and only an option in the appendix. An attempt to make it a recommended requirement in the regional amendments was voted down at the RCCC. During this process, Dallas BA has submitted a rebuttal that recommends that these items would more appropriately be addressed via an option accompanied by an incentive, to better meet the city’s goals, as opposed to a mandate that will be paid for by homeowners who for a product most of them will never use. At a time when housing affordability is a top concern, it is just bad policy to implement these types of requirements because it’s the popular thing to do or it makes policy makers feel good about themselves. It is even worse housing policy to push such requirements in an agenda to try and increase the usage of a certain type of vehicle. Whether it is a desire to drive the sale of a vehicle or to increase energy efficiency, neither would see much benefit from such an ordinance. Residential build- ing codes should stay focused on the home. And it is important to note that new homes have doubled efficiency when compared to 15 years ago. There is good news in the City of Dallas on the permitting front. At its December meeting with Dallas BA, the Building Inspections department informed that they have reached a preliminary goal of getting the number of backlogged per - mits out beyond 15 days down to zero. The department is still focused on reducing the number of days to get permit applications processed and permits issued. With the Texas Legislature kicking off the 88th Session on Jan. 10, it’s already
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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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