 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Overview |
|
The Peninsula Housing And Builders Association acts as the voice of its members on issues that affect the housing and building industry. We work to protect economic growth and strive to keep housing affordable. Through our public and legislative efforts, we help educate the public and keep our industry vital and thriving. Housing is vital to local and state economies, creating jobs and generating taxes and wages that positively influence the quality of life. Not only do these effects begin before the shovel even hits the dirt, but they last long after the housing has been built. The Peninsula Housing and Builders Association works to protect the interests and vitality of the Hampton Roads building industry, because a vibrant home-building industry translates into massive benefits. At the National Level Housing production and housing-related services account for about 15 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and drive other closely related sectors of the economy. In 2004, sales of new single-family homes topped one million and set a new annual sales record for the fourth consecutive year. The National Association of Home Builders has released figures showing just how much the housing industry affects local economies.
The Peninsula Housing And Builders Association works closely with the Home Builders of Virginia to address concerns and promote the industry on a statewide level. During the General Assembly’s legislative sessions, PHBA members support the legislative agenda of the Home Builders Association of Virginia. In 2005, HBAV legislative agenda includes two measures related to the so-called proffer system in Virginia. One of which, HB 2888, has been labeled as “Proffer Accountability,” while the other, HB 2456, has been labeled “Proffer Reform.” Both measures, after being amended, have been passed by the House of Delegates and the state Senate, and they now await the Governor’s signature. House Bill 2888’s chief patron is Delegate Scott Lingamfelter of Prince William County. It will require localities to begin construction or cause construction to begin on the improvements for which a cash proffer was paid, within seven years of receiving full payment of the cash proffer, or disburse the same to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for direct allocation to the Secondary Road System (counties) construction program or the Urban System (cities) construction program for the locality. House Bill 2456, patroned by Virginia Beach Delegate Terrie Suit, will prohibit localities from requiring a proffer that requires the payment of a cash proffer from landowners prior to the issuance of a building permit. The measure would also prohibit localities from seeking or accepting a cash proffer that includes an escalator clause tied to any index other than a nationally recognized independent index. Efforts in Local Counties and Cities The Peninsula Housing And Builders Association also monitors how local governments regulate residential development and home building. PHBA works with local government to remove regulations that no longer serve a useful purpose and to modify and adapt existing or new regulations to minimize regulations’ impact on the cost of new housing. Through these efforts, we work to keep housing affordable for all residents of the Peninsula. In 2005, our efforts include:
The Peninsula Housing And Builders Association supports “Smart Growth” policies. Smart Growth touches on choices that Americans hold close to their hearts — where they live, work and play, the education of children, commute times to work, and the economic and job opportunities created by new growth. It is an idea that addresses the questions of how best to plan for and manage when and where new residential and commercial development, schools and major highways should be built and located, how and where to preserve meaningful open space and protect environmentally-sensitive areas, and how to pay for the infrastructure required to serve a growing population. How well we plan for projected and inevitable increases in households, changing demographics and lifestyles and an expanding economy will have a major impact on the quality of life in years ahead. When used properly as a planning tool, Smart Growth can help expand homeownership opportunities and allow Americans to obtain the home and lifestyle of their dreams in new suburban as well as in older suburban and city infill markets. When used improperly, growth management becomes a tool to stop or slow growth. Such a move would penalize and put at greatest risk those living at the edge of housing affordability — the young, minorities, immigrants and moderate-income families who are just now taking advantage of today’s economic prosperity and low interest rates and are entering the homeownership market in record numbers. Residential and commercial growth is fluid - meaning that when it is stopped in one place, it will inevitably occur somewhere else. No growth approaches are, in part, responsible for the leapfrog development patterns of the past. Attacking past development patterns and blaming builders does not recognize the fact that public policy and the housing preferences of Americans dictate where development occurs. Notwithstanding that revitalization of older suburban and inner city markets and infill development is good public policy, even under the best of conditions, infill development will satisfy only a small percentage of a community’s demand for new housing. PHBA works with locally elected governments to balance these competing interests and assure that the realities of the housing marketplace are a part of local decision-making. PHBA encourages decisions based on direct citizen input that best reflect the needs, desires, and priorities of our communities. |
 |
Website Design by VECTEC