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Week of September 8, 2003

Front Page

President's Message

* Housing Advocates Are Prevailing in Court on Policy Issues

Housing Forum

* Solving the Housing Crisis — California's Oldest Permanent Emergency

Housing Politics

* NAFTA Panel Questions Basis for Tariffs on Canadian Lumber

Regulation

* HUD Web Site a Clearinghouse for Regulatory Concerns

Housing Finance

* Builders Working to Step Up Participation on State Financing Boards

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Remodeling Index Finds a Big Upswing in the Second Quarter
* Home Warranties Open the Door to Future Business Opportunities

Business Management

* The General Liability Insurance Crisis: Seven Strategies for Builders

Multifamily

* Fully Automated Garage a First for U.S. Multifamily Buildings

Commercial Builders

* Commercial Buildings Go 'Green' With Sustainable Design

Seniors Housing

* Research Is Essential For Targeting the Active Adult Market

Member Dividends

* NAHB Advocates Help Make a Bad Land Plan Better

Building Products

* Douglas Fir Is Pretty Hard for a Softwood

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Survey Aimed at Improving Arbitration Services
* Boost Your Marketing Through These Awards Programs
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

NAHB Advocates Help Make a Bad Land Plan Better

Facing a new 20-year county land plan containing bad news for home building, the Home Builders Association of Berks County, PA, last fall sought help from NAHB’s Advocacy Group and was soon engaged in a successful fight to change the plan to accommodate the housing needs of the area, according to Ronald Rohrbach, the association's executive director.

In five days, said Rohrbach, NAHB advocates completed an analysis of the 1.5-pound document and were able to confirm that the county’s 2020 blueprint for growth raised troubling issues for members of the local association.

Last September, NAHB staff members Keyvan Izadi and Debbie Bassert were sent to visit with county planners and to attend an initial public hearing in a fact-finding mission that would be used to launch an attack against the plan at a second public hearing scheduled for the following month.

With little time to prepare, Rohrbach said, NAHB advocates returned to Berks County in October and, with the news media in attendance, presented an NAHB Economic Impact Study on housing’s positive contributions to the local community along with a detailed analysis of the flaws in the 2020 plan.


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After several weeks, the county commissioners contacted the local association and asked them to submit a list of provisions they wanted to see included in the plan. At a meeting with the association in mid-January, county representatives reviewed home builders’ concerns and promised that they would be addressed in the final plan.

Further assistance from NAHB’s Advocacy Group and some more “saber rattling” was needed to get the commissioners to live up to their promise, according to Rohrbach. And although the final report, which was adopted in April, still contains flaws, the association now finds itself in "a more positive position"  from which to continue the fight for housing, he said.

In the meantime, the association has been meeting with the Center for Community Leadership of Berks County and other interested groups to establish a training module that will educate planners about “smart growth.”


Get Special Discounts from Hertz®

NAHB members can get deals on car class upgrades and one-way double upgrades, and discounts off weekly and weekend rentals from Hertz.

For more information, call Hertz at 800-654-2200 and use CDP No. 051046 or visit them online. To request your free Hertz ID card, call NAHB at 800-368-5242 x8330.

For details on more than a dozen other money-saving Member Advantage discount programs click here, or send a blank e-mail to membersavings@nahb.com.

Go to www.nahb.org to explore the numerous advantages associated with membership in your local, state and national home builders association.


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