Anne Arundel CountyAA

Monument Markers

Anne Arundel County's Department of Public Works has clarified the requirements for monuments and markers on Public Works Agreements and plats to state that monuments are necessary on PWAs at each street intersection as well as at any curvature, point of tangency or break in a public street and that no less than 4 traverse points are required on plats. Click here to read the updated policy.

 

PWA Submittal Requirements 

The Department of Inspections and Permits has introduced a new policy for PWA Submittal Requirements and Grading Submittal Requirements effective April 1, 2015. The changes greatly reduce the number of plan/plat copies for PWA submittals. However, I&P will require one additional plan copy for SCD with each permit submittal. Once all agencies have approved the permit, the developer/consultant will no longer have to provide copies of the approved Green Stamp plans before being issued a permit. Instead a Green Stamp set will be issued with the permit. Finally, for both Public Works Agreements and Grading Permits, Inspectors will no longer be carrying out copies of plans to pre-construction meetings for the owner/developer's team.

Grading Plan Checklist 
Grading Permit Submission

Grading Permit Revision

PWA Submittal Requirements


Stormwater Restoration Fee Repeal Bills

Two bills intended to repeal the Stormwater Restoration Fees have been introduced. One that repeals the fee immediately (Bill 17-15) and another repealing the fee phased in over three years (Bill 16-15). County Executive Schuh is supporting both measures and has stated that while the fees may be repealed, he intends to continue funding the County's stormwater obligations out of general fund revenues. The MBIA has not taken a position on either piece of legislation. 

   BALTIMORE CITYcity

Transform Baltimore

MBIA is joining other Baltimore City real estate associations and community groups in urging the City Council to finish Transform Baltimore by the end of the 2015.  The coalition of interested groups have drafted a letter to be sent to Council President Jack Young urging his office to release for public comment the over 700 amendments that have been introduced, wrap up the text portion of the master plan, then take up the maps and bulk regs after the text has been approved.  Our letter also outlines several concerns we have with the draft master plan that we hope to address when the amendments are published.  We have received assurances that the President's office is developing a database to manage the draft amendments and make available for public review, and committee members have likewise expressed a desire to wrap this plan up by the end of 2015. 

 

Inclusionary Housing

Chapter members met with Councilman Bill Henry at the last Chapter meeting to discuss his vision for changing the City's Inclusionary Housing Policy.  Rumors of possible changes emerged after the Inclusionary Housing Board issued a report in late December citing lack of funds and inclusionary housing options along with a "commitment to working this year on identifying a set of recommendations to increase the Offset Fund, improve the use of the funds, and strategies to create more inclusionary, affordable units, whether or not they are located within market rate developments."  Chapter members continue to track this issue and are working closely with members of the City Council and the Baltimore Development Workgroup, although no proposals have been offered by the Council at this point.

 

CHAP Update

The Historic Tax Credit Program is now accepting applications for projects within the newly designated Brewer's Hill National Register Historic District.

The Brewer's Hill Historic District is bounded by Eastern Avenue to the North, S. Conkling Street to the West, Dillon Street to the South, and the Eastern edge of the properties on the East side of  S. Haven Street.

Applications must be submitted through the Online Application System on the Department of Finance website.

   BALTIMORE COUNTYbalcounty

Open Space Waiver Fees
 
On Thursday March 19th the Baltimore County Planning Board held a public hearing to review Planning Board staff recommendations for changes to Local Open Space Waiver Fees. These staff recommendations came as the result of 2013 Baltimore County Council legislation requesting the Planning Board staff review the local open space waiver fee regime. At the hearing, MBIA testified that the recommendations do not fully respond to the Council's request. We asked the Planning Board to delay making a recommendation while the MBIA works with Neighborspace of Baltimore County to come with a comprehensive recommendation that deals with creating flexibility in the open space manual while setting waiver fees in a transparent, predictable and empirically justifiable manner. Click there to view MBIA's written testimony

 

Honeygo Area Plan

Bill 21-15 Introduced. Councilman David Marks has introduced Bill 21-15, which significantly alters the current Honeygo Area plan's subareas and public infrastructure requirements. The bill includes a new home construction moratorium until certain schools, roads and public parks are constructed in the Honeygo Area. The bill will had a public work session on March 31 at 2:00pm and a final reading and vote is expected on April 6 at 6:00pm in Council Chambers. MBIA testified against the legislation due to concerns of setting a precedent that attaches new home building to school construction. The MBIA is currently working with Councilman Marks to find alternative ways to achieve the laudable objective of building more schools without creating a moratorium on new construction. Click here to read MBIA's testimony

   CALVERT COUNTYcalvert

Draft Signage Regulations

The Calvert County Department of Community Planning and Building will be hosting a public meeting to explain the county's draft signage regulations and take public comments.  The meeting is scheduled for:

Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.

Calvert High School cafeteria

600 Dares Beach Road

Prince Frederick, MD

   CARROLL COUNTYcarroll

New Well Test Disclosures for Nitrates

The Carroll County Health Department has released a new disclosure form in order to grant a permanent deviation to the Certificate of Potability.  This form will be necessary if a well tests above 10ppm for nitrates, and is required to be filed in the land record. Although a disclosure is required by MDE, the content of the disclosure has been left to the local health department, and Chapter members have serious concerns about the wording used by the local health department and enforcement inconsistencies that have occurred since released in early March.  A meeting has been scheduled with the Health Department director to discuss our concerns.  

   CHARLES COUNTYcharlescount

Flood Plain Management Ordinance

Flood Plain Management Ordinance update has been approved by the Commissioners & will become effective on May 4, 2015.

 

Traffic Calming Program

Public Hearing scheduled for April 7, 2015 regarding changes to Road Ordinance & Subdivision Regulations pertaining to Traffic Calming program and standards.

 

Building Code Update 

The Planning Growth and Management office is in the process of updating the county's Building Code Ordinance.  The County's Office of Law is currently reviewing the ordinance and PGM has asked for the building Industry's comments   

 

Public Hearing of the Water and Sewer Plan

The Charles County Commissioners will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at 6:00 p.m., in the County Commissioners' Meeting Room of the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, Maryland, to consider a proposed amendment to the Charles County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.  The Charles County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan amendments are available for public review at the Charles County Government Building, Department of Planning and Growth Management, Division of Resource and Infrastructure Management.  For more information, please contact John Mudd at 301-645-0598 or email: [email protected]

   HARFORD COUNTYharford

2015 International Building and Energy Codes  

The Harford County Council will hold a public hearing on the adoption of the 2015 International Building and Energy Codes on April 14, 2015 at 6:30pm in Harford County Council Chambers. The Upper Chesapeake Chapter of the MBIA is supporting this legislation, which adopts the new codes without adding any additional or burdensome regulations. Click here to read MBIA's letter of support

   HOWARD COUNTYhowardcount

2015 Building Codes

MBIA testified in support of the County's adoption of the 2015 Building code, 2015 Energy code, and other related codes.  Our chapter sought 2 amendments to the IBC and received assurances from the code officials that they are willing to work with builders if these issues arise, but they have not experienced the issues before and don't expect to, so were reluctant to amend the code to address issues not likely to occur.  The two amendments dealt with exhaust fans and wall bracings.  We expect the Council to approve the codes at their next voting session, and the new code will become effective in mid-June.

 

Howard County Certificates of Guarantee

The House Appropriations committee voted in favor of HB 440, which then passed the full House of Delegates unanimously, after MBIA members Scott Nicholson and Steve Breeden testified in Annapolis in support of enabling legislation that will allow the county to honor certificates of guarantee issued by the Builders' Development Guaranty Group of the Maryland Building Industry Association (BDGG). These certificates could be accepted in addition to currently accepted bonds for streets and roads.  Currently these certificates are allowed in Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's and Washington Counties. The local Chapter is still discussing this new type of certificate with local DPW officials and we hope to get their support and eventually local legislation accepting it, but state legislation is required first. 

 The bill will be heard next before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 1 at 1pm.  

   MONTGOMERY COUNTYmontcoun

DPS 2015 - 2016 Budget

Comes before the PHED committee on April 23rd where it is likely the new permit fee schedule will be introduced.  DPS indicates that there may be substantial fee reductions for certain commercial and multifamily building permit fees and a change to single family housing but that the fees for land development will remain the same.

 

Chapter Breakfast - April 24th

Reminder that our chapter breakfast is April 24th with the County Executive, the Council, the Planning Board and other government officials (Including Congressman Delaney and Van Hollen) where we honor the 2015 Malcom Shaneman Quality of Life recipient.  You may register on-line at www.marylandbuilders.org

 

Chapter Meeting April 15th.

We welcome the new Director of DHCA, Clarence Snuggs.

  PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTYprinceg

FY16 Proposed County Budget Released

County Executive Rushern Baker is proposing an increase in various building, licensing and related permitting and technology fees in the amount of $28.3 million dollars.  This is an increase of $8.6 million or 43.5% in FY 2016 and is due primarily to a proposed increase in building, grading and street use permits. The proposal include changes to the formula used to calculate building permit fees, the introduction of a new technology surcharge, and increases to certain fixed fee permits.   In addition, the County Executive wants to RIF 110 filled positions in the general fund and a $0.15 increase in the real property tax rate from $0.96 to $1.11 per $100 of assessable value in FY 2016. The proposed FY 2016 Budget for all funds is $3.63 billion, an increase of 5.7% or $197.2 million over the FY 2015 Budget.

 

Revisions to the Prince Georges County Code Subtitle 32

The Department of Permitting Inspection and Enforcement (DPIE) will be introducing revisions to the Prince Georges County Code Subtitle 32.   These revisions are required to align the county code with MDE's model ordinance.

 

Senator Muse Introduces a Bill to Limit Property Tax Increase

Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's) proposed a state law that would block an attempt by Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker to raise property taxes.  Senate Bill 939 would forbid the county's governing body to set a property tax rate higher than limits that is set in the county charter.  Through "TRIM", there is a cap of $0.96 per $100 of assessed value.

  ST MARY'S COUNTYstmarys

Indefinite Suspension of the Great Bay Wind Energy Project

The Pioneer Green Energy Company advised the Somerset Board of County Commissioners of the "indefinite suspension" of a wind turbine project planned across the Chesapeake Bay from Patuxent River Naval Air Station.  The Great Bay Wind Energy project was deemed a threat to national security last fall by the Department of Defense because of possible interference to a specialized radar system at Pax River (NAS).

  OTHER INDUSTRY NEWSother

New Floodplain Rules Could Affect Residential Construction

A new executive order could have a significant impact on how and where MBIA members develop, build and remodel homes and communities near coasts and rivers. On Jan. 30, President Obama signed Executive Order (EO) 13690, part of the Administration's plans to improve climate resiliency as directed by the President's Climate Action Plan. It updates a 1977 EO that required federal agencies to do what they could to preserve the nation's floodplains-areas subject to a 1% chance or greater of flooding in any given year-and limit their development where possible.

Maryland and Northern Virginia home builders, engineers, BIA staff, and NAHB staff weighed in with their concerns of our industry on March 24th during the FEMA listening session at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

 They raised concerns regarding the regulatory scope of the executive order, the lack of scientific data and economic analysis supporting the new flood risk standard, and the potential for increased regulatory confusion stemming from the new floodplain definitions.

 Members can comment in writing, and the comment due date has been extended to May 6. Details on how to comment are in the Federal Register notice.

View an NAHB fact sheet on the Executive Order . For more information contact Owen McDonough, program manager, environmental policy at 202-266-8662.

 

New EPA Emissions Standards for Wood-Burning Heaters

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a new standard that sets more stringent emissions requirements for wood-burning stoves. The standard also covers hydronic heaters, indoor wood-fired forced-air furnaces and single burn-rate woodstoves. 

Proposed emissions standards for masonry heaters were not included in the final rule. It is also important to note that the standard does not apply to devices already installed and in house, nor does it cover fireplaces, fire pits, pizza ovens, barbecues or chimneys.

This is the first time EPA has revised the clean air standard for residential wood heaters since it was first adopted in 1988. EPA expects that fine particle and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions should go down by about 70% while carbon monoxide emissions are estimated to be 62% lower.

To ease the transition to cleaner stoves, EPA's final rule will allow retailers to sell woodstoves that meet requirements of EPA's 1988 rule and for hydronic heaters until December 31, 2015.

 Click here for details on the rule.  EPA website has more information about controlling air pollution from residential wood heaters.

 

Updated National Green Building Standard Open for Comments

The Home Innovation Research Labs has released for public comment a draft of the 2015 Update of the ICC-ASHRAE 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). Comments are due by April 20 and should be submitted using the Public Comment Submittal form. Home Innovation Research Labs serves as secretariat, or administrator of the standard, which is expedited to be an ANSI standard.

With nearly 50,000 homes and lots certified, the standard has become the preeminent green rating system in the residential space. The standard awards points to projects submitted by single-family and multifamily builders, developers and remodelers for using the technologies and practices described in six different sections: energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, land and site development, indoor environmental quality, and home owner education and maintenance. To find out more about residential building using the NGBS, click here.

There are also a number of changes to the remodeling chapter "that make it much more relevant to the remodeling industry," Ross said, including better definitions, more square footage allowed for attic space renovations, and more clarity on meeting point requirements for additions and remodeled parts of a home, as opposed to a whole-house remodel.

APRIL 2015
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