Regional Land Use Advisory Commission – Quarterly Meeting IMPORTANT INFORMATION

RLUAC Quarterly Meeting
May 19, 2016

Report:  Angie Hedgepeth
Government Affairs Director
Fayetteville Regional Association of REALTORS®

Background on RLUAC – The Regional Land Use Advisory Commission (RLUAC) is a non-profit 501(C)3 membership based organization located in the Sandhills of North Carolina consisting of twenty units of local government: eight counties and twelve municipalities.  The twenty year old organization was the first regional group established in the country to coordinate land use decisions between the military and the local governments.  Today, the primary mission of RLUAC is to balance the following three key objectives through facilitating regional planning and development reviews, communication and coordination: 1)Protect the Civilian Population from negative military impacts; 2)Protect the Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem from destruction; and 3) Protect the Military Training Mission from incompatible development
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David Kennedy (Program Manager, Office of Economic Adjustment from the Pentagon) gave a presentation on the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment Joint Land Use Study Program that will begin in the next few months.  The study is expected to take two years with a grant from the Department of Defense.

Talking Points from Mr. Kennedy:

  • This study will be the 5th since the late 80’s
  • The last study was conducted in 2008
  • The base has encroachment concerns
  • Ft. Bragg will go nowhere but if the base allows encroachment, it may get out of control.  Missions and training may be moved to other bases
  • The Garrison Commander supports the study
  • A few more days and the grant will be in place
  • The funding will come from Department of Defense
  • Regional Land Use Advisory Commission will execute the study and make this happen
  • There are a lot of compatibility use issues  i.e.. in Ft. Drum there are huge wind turns and no one looked at the flight helicopter path
  • Another example of urban development near a base is 2/3 of a condominium unit on the edge of a bases flight corridors
  • Cell phone towers is another issue
  • The study will analyze the history of phone calls from civilians to the base
  • The community is the grantee and the RLUAC executive committee will make the decisions, they are the policy committee
  • There will public input and meetings.  The public will be solicited for feedback
  • Implementation is key and we will push for implementation either by legislative action or rewriting some laws may be needed
  • RLUAC will meet every other month (question was raised if these meetings would be open to the public and the answer was TBD)
  • We need a “Military Influence Area” or overlay district
  • Ordinance will be written and there will be new real estate disclosure
  • Conservation easements and buffers
  • State legislation that needs teeth
  • This will be a two year grant
  • Study will have an environmental footprint
  • Consulting compay will do the work but the board of directors (RLUAC) will meet more often

Jim Daughtry (Executive Officer RLUAC) gave a brief presentation on their role in the land use study.  Talking points are below.

  • The last time we did a study, we contacted all realtors and builders for a public input meeting.  We had new news etc. there.  Only one realtor showed up.  Now I am glad we have representation from the REALTORS® Association this time
  • We will study a 5 mile radius around the base (Cumberland, Hoke, Scotland, Lee, Harnett, Moore)
  • This is the most comprehensive and impressive report I’ve seen
  • The environmentalist are expecting great things from this report

Below are the requirements from Ft. Bragg for the study:

  • GIS database
  • Examine land use changes around 5 mile parcels
  • To what extend the land is encroaching on the base
  • Study fish and wildlife
  • Completely update environmental requirements
  • Study the EPA climate change on existing infrastructure of Ft. Bragg and the area
  • Study solar farms
  • Study the water supply, interbasin transfer and fracking and the potential conflicts with each
  • Study Drones – look at the airspace demands and identify areas of non-development

“Incompatible development can affect training here…it would be like closing a goodyear plant and we don’t want that.”

5 phases of the study:

project initiation = 3 months
review and research = 41% of the study and will take 9 months
compatibility/development analysis report = 5 months
implementation plan = remainder of the time “we will expect local government to use it.”

National Association of REALTORS® – Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C.

National Association of REALTORS®
Mid-Year Meetings
Washington, D.C.
May 8 – 14, 2016

Report:  Angie Hedgepeth
Government Affairs Director
Fayetteville Regional Association of REALTORS®

Legislative & Regulatory Issues Forum:  Impact of Student Debt on Housing

Julian Castro – U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

  • Thank you REALTORS® for being a voice for the housing industry and thank you for being a friend
  • 40 million young Americans carry student loan debt
  • Millenials are putting off buying their first home
  • Generation X are shouldering the debt
  • 20% of millenniasl are providing money to parents
  • New Rule Change on Condominiums – HUD condominium rule is out the door!
  • This rule change will give more builders market flexibility

Rohit Chopra – U.S. Department of Education (Senior Advisor)

  • The U.S. Government currently has 1.2 trillion in federal student loans
  • 42 million Americans carry federal student loans
  • Average amount owed is $29,000
  • 7 million young Americans are in default
  • 3,700 loans each day are in default
  • New rules are being drafted to cope with these loan payments
  • Lenders are receiving the money vs. young graduates saving for their first house
  • Owning a home and going to college cannot compete with each other

What is Congress Doing regarding these loans?

  • HR 3179 – enhanced counseling bill
  • HR 1434 – emergency loan refinance act
  • S 85 – repay act of 2015
  • S 1948 – access to fair financial options for repaying debt act

Sidebar:  From Senator Richard Burr’s email on 5/16/2016

This week, the Treasury Department announced that student loan interest rates will drop again.  Rates for the next school year will fall to 3.76 percent, down from 6.8 percent in 2012.  This is great news for North Carolina students and families.  The interest rate decrease will save North Carolina student more than a billion dollars this year alone.

Capital Hill Visits:

Senator Richard Burr Talking Points

  • Technology is going to drive North Carolinas future.  Technology can change our military, textiles, furniture and return business to North Carolina. We need to get rid of the hurdles
  • We have to solve the healthcare issues
  • Isle is currently in 19 countries

Senator Thom Tillis Talking Points

Q – Business are struggling with healthcare…is there any hope?
A – Affordable Care Act has damaged small business.  I was talking with Parkers Barbeque in Wilson, NC recently and before the healthcare act, he employed 120 fulltime employees…now he has 50 less and they are part-time.  Before the healthcare act, he provided healthcare options…now he cannot afford to.
(Burr) – Now you have Americans that say…”I owe nothing because it is free.”  That is a burden the hospitals didn’t see coming!

Residential Economic Issues & Trends Forum:

Lawrence Yun, PHD – National Association of REALTORS® Chief Economist Talking Points

  • Mutigenerational living is increasing
  • Apartment living and home prices are increasing
  • if rent is raised = higher inflation
  • If lower rent = lower inflation
  • Charleston South Carolina is booming due to the Boeing Manufacutureing Plant
  • US Homeownership is at a 50 year low – in part student loans are to blame
  • Students who graduate and paying loans = 5 year delay in buying a home
  • Homeownership is low for minorities
  • The forecast is steady for growth
  • New home sales are impressive in 2014 = 437,000 and in 2015 = 600,000
  • Mortgage rates will increase
  • REALTOR® memberships will increase

Senator Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) – on student loan debt

  • I am labored on the topic of student debt
  • 7 out of 10 students had to borrow money last year
  • 6 months after graduation…BAM, they get their first bill.  This year, after graduating in May, 1 million graduates will receive bills in the mail.  This year, there are 40 million with student loans and now you are adding another million
  • We are pricing students out of the middle class
  • We are weighing down the economy.  The government made $66 billion in profit of the backs of young graduates
  • Students are not the governments profit centers!
  • Sgudents can’t refinance their loans but everyone else can…even the government
  • We are working on the “Student Loan Refinancing Bill – Bank on Students Refinancing Act,” and the National Association of REALTORS® has just informed me that you (REALTORS®) will support this bill

Quality of Life – A New Place to Play!

 From the City of Fayetteville…

A new place to play!
Make the new Maiden Lane Park a destination during the next family visit to downtown ‪#‎FayettevilleNC‬. A five-minute walk from most attractions it is located along Linear Park where Maiden Lane passes overhead.

The new park is close to Fascinate-U children’s museum, the Main Headquarters public library, and the Capital Encore Academy. For more information on the park and other community news visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPBHDVk-Wqs

'Make the new Maiden Lane Park a destination during the next family visit to downtown #FayettevilleNC. A five-minute walk from most attractions it is located along Linear Park where Maiden Lane passes overhead.'
'Make the new Maiden Lane Park a destination during the next family visit to downtown #FayettevilleNC. A five-minute walk from most attractions it is located along Linear Park where Maiden Lane passes overhead.'
'Make the new Maiden Lane Park a destination during the next family visit to downtown #FayettevilleNC. A five-minute walk from most attractions it is located along Linear Park where Maiden Lane passes overhead.'
'Make the new Maiden Lane Park a destination during the next family visit to downtown #FayettevilleNC. A five-minute walk from most attractions it is located along Linear Park where Maiden Lane passes overhead.'

From NCAR – NC REALTORS® Legislative Meetings in June

 

NC REALTORS® Legislative Meetings are right around the corner.
2016 NC REALTORS® Legislative Meetings June 20-22, 2016

NC REALTORS® Legislative Meetings are right around the corner. This is your opportunity to meet face-to-face with elected officials in Raleigh and to show them the power of the REALTOR® voice.

This year’s event will take place June 20-22 in downtown Raleigh. Join us Monday and Tuesday for committee meetings and other events at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel (421 S Salisbury St.), and Wednesday for Legislative Day at the NC General Assembly (16 W Jones Street).

Here are some highlights from this year’s agenda:

  • Don’t miss the Legislative Forum on Tuesday, June 21. This year, in partnership with NC REALTORS®’ charitable foundation, Homes4NC, and thanks to a Housing Opportunity grant from NAR, the forum will focus on legislative efforts to support housing affordability for all citizens. Members of the General Assembly will be on hand to discuss opportunities for REALTORS® to support this important issue and representatives from Homes4NC will present the work being done to support community housing projects throughout North Carolina. 12:30-1:30 p.m., Oak Forest A  
  • That evening, join us for the Legislative Reception and interact with legislators and REALTORS® from across the state.  New this year – the reception will be held at the North Carolina Museum of History. 6:00-7:30 p.m., NC Museum of History (Buses depart Sheraton at 5:45 p.m.; Buses depart Museum at 7:30 p.m.)  
  • Then, get ready to rally for Legislative Day on Wednesday, June 22.  NC REALTORS® lobbyists will start the morning with a briefing of talking points and things you’ll need to know before your meetings with legislators. You’ll also hear from legislative REALTOR® champions on the value of advocacy. 9-10:30 a.m., NC General Assembly Legislative Auditorium (Buses depart Sheraton at 8:30 a.m.)

 

Keep watching the weekly Government Affairs Update for additional event highlights. Check out the full meeting schedule here.

Want to attend? Make sure you make your hotel reservations soon. The hotel block at the Sheraton will remain open until May 26.

National Association of REALTORS® – Energy Bill Passes Senate

Image result for national association of realtors

 

Senate Passes Energy Bill

April 22, 2016

By Russell Riggs, Jamie Gregory

This week, the Senate passed S. 2012, the U.S. Energy Modernization Act, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).  Two provisions in the bill relate specifically to the real estate sector:

(1) The SAVE Act would allow federal mortgage underwriters, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to consider the energy savings from efficiency upgrades when determining a homebuyer’s ability to make payments.

(2) The bill permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation fund, which acquires land from willing sellers to create parks, greenways and other outdoor recreational spaces. The provision also reforms the program by redirecting more funds to non-federal and private land acquisition programs.

The bill now heads to a conference with the House energy bill, H.R. 8, to reconcile both pieces of legislation before it can get to the President’s desk for a signature.

Fayetteville Sign Review Update

The Fayetteville Sign Task Force from the Greater Chamber of Commerce has been tasked to draft changes to the sign section of the Fayetteville Unified Development Ordinance.  Stakeholders presented their first interim report this month.  The report is a working document and Fayetteville City Council will vote on changes once the task force has completed the ordinance.  Real estate signs will be discussed in May. (directional, open houses etc.)

Sidebar:  If you have suggestions for the task force, please send your emails to the FRAR government affairs department.  ahedgepeth@fayettevillencmls.com

Below are a few highlights.  Please click on the link below to view the full power point document.

Sign Report v3 160404

Attached Signs

Proposed:

  • 50% Bonus for Channel Lettering
  • 50% Bonus for 3D signs
  • 50% Bonus Attached vs freestanding
  • Eliminate size caps for projecting signs

Ground Signs

Proposed:

  • Increase height for ground signs to promote their use
  • 20 feet maximum in most commercial districts

Pole Signs

Proposed:

  • Change the definition of a pole sign to allow the support structure to be up to 50% of the sign width
  • Encourage pole covers: wrapped pole covers between 20% – 50% of the size of the sign, allowed 20% increase in area of the sign

Vehicle Signs

Proposed:

  • Allow cars, vans and light utility trucks to park in any legal parking space on the premises being advertised if it is used in the conduct of business and is a licensed vehicle
  • Vehicles larger than cars, vans and light utility trucks park 50ft of right of way

Special Use Signs

Proposed:

  • Accommodate specific type sign needs (theaters, auto dealerships)