Florida
FHBA Legislative Conference: The Florida Home Builders Association Spring Legislative Conference was April 7-8 in Tallahassee. A contingent representing NEFBA met with local legislators, attended legislative briefings and participated in FHBA meetings. The NEFBA group also promoted the FHBA specialty license plate bill, which was filed by Sen. Aaron Bean and Rep. Daniel Davis.
Duval County
NEFBA's Government Affairs Committee meeting: The committee will meet at 8:30 a.m., Friday, April 18 at the NEFBA office, 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100, Jacksonville.
2030 mobility plan amendment: Legislation that would allow a landowner or developer to construct and dedicate an entire transportation improvement project not identified in the 2030 Mobility plan as a prioritized transportation project and receive credit for said project is moving forward in the City Council. After initial delays due to an unfriendly amendment filed by the Planning Department, a group of NEFBA members met to draft an amendment that would satisfy the Land Use and Zoning Committee's request without removing the focus of the legislation.
Mobility fee calculation bill: Councilman Bill Bishop filed legislation to have a technical advisory panel of traffic engineers advise the Planning Department on the proper method to calculate mobility fees. The legislation was the result of a workshop with the Land Use and Zoning Committee, where multiple NEFBA members provided examples of inconsistencies in the Planning Department's calculations of mobility fees. Councilman Bishop has also requested an audit of the Planning Department to look into these discrepancies in the mobility fee methodology.
Duval County issues: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
St. Johns County
Second-phase development: Builders in St. Johns County have encountered new restrictions regarding multiphase developments. Under Section 6.04.07 of the County Land Development Code, access to development phases under construction cannot go through existing parts of the development. Instead, temporary access must be provided for each phase of construction. NEFBA members and staff have met with county officials to voice concerns over this rule, which was enacted at the height of the downturn.
Builders Council: Leona Brown, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Clay County
Transportation funding study: Clay County hosted a Transportation Infrastructure Funding Study Focus Group kick-off meeting Feb. 27. Several NEFBA members participated in the focus group, which is funded by the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization. The next meeting will be this month.
Builders Council: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Nassau County
NAU personal guarantee: Nassau County is researching how to implement a change from personal guarantees to deposits for new service contracts with the Nassau Amelia Utility. NEFBA expressed a desire to see the guarantee, which overrides incorporation protection, replaced with a more traditional method of insuring payment, i.e. deposits.
Builders Council: Corey Hacker, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Baker County
Issues: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355