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Virginia Builders Rally Against Anti-Growth Policy
More than 100 members of the Virginia housing industry showed up in full force at the state capital recently to voice their opposition to the newly elected governor’s anti-growth proposals.
The Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) sponsored a “housing blitz” in Richmond after new Gov. Tim Kaine (D), in office just days, announced plans to give local governments more power to restrict the development of much-needed new housing.
The housing industry can claim victory, for now, over the proposed anti-growth measures because the deadline has passed for legislators to introduce new bills during their current session. But the builders still can’t let down their guard, because the governor of Virginia has extraordinary powers that could enable him to revive this issue prior to the March 12 scheduled adjournment of the state legislature.
The housing blitz received significant media coverage, including a Washington Post story quoting Mike Toalson, the association’s executive officer, who said, “The more troops we have this year, the more effective we will be.”
Since his election, Gov. Kaine has traveled the state highlighting his intent to pressure the state legislature to grant municipalities and counties the new authority to adopt “Adequate Public Facilities” (APF) for roads ordinances. These ordinances would allow jurisdictions to approve or reject land-use plans based solely on their determination of the adequacy of public facilities, such as roads and schools.
Toalson points out that the proposed APFs are contrary to the development process, noting that construction of public roads follows residential and commercial growth, and that builders do not construct roads to nowhere, basing their hopes that one day there will be development near those roads. “Localities neither have the vision nor the resources to build roads to nowhere, which APF growth management authority would require,” Toalson said.
To prepare for the blitz, the Virginia association armed the housing industry representatives with solid background information to take to their lawmakers. HBAV pointed out that in those places where adequate public facilities requirements have been put in place, the cost of new and existing housing has increased dramatically because new home construction has not been able to keep pace with demand. And in those areas that have adopted APFs, sprawl actually has increased as those working at new jobs in the popular suburbs have sought more affordable housing further away from their offices.
For more information about HBAV’s housing blitz, e-mail Mike Toalson with the state home builders association.
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