NAHB and County Leaders Meet to Discuss Housing Policy

Leaders from the National Association of Counties (NACo) recently hosted a two-hour private conversation with the NAHB Senior Officers during the NACo Annual Meeting in Chicago. 

This was the fourth such meeting between the two groups since the inception of a formal partnership in 2001 garnered by 2002 NAHB President Gary Garczynski. The partnership agreement pledges collaboration on local growth issues, recognizes local land use control, and emphasizes shared common principles relating to creating a high quality of life for citizens. Ultimately, the partnership was brokered to build stronger relationships at the national level that will assist NAHB and NACo in providing better service to their members locally.

Representing NAHB at the policy discussion were NAHB President David Pressly, First Vice President Brian Catalde, Vice President/Treasurer Sandy Dunn and Vice President/Secretary Joe Robson.

Topics discussed at the meeting covered a variety of issues including: 

• Community Development Block Grants
• Tax Reform
• Eminent Domain
• Inclusionary Zoning
• Government Sponsored Enterprises
• Green Building
• Storm Water

The NAHB Senior Officers and staff described how federal tax reform policy, specifically that calling for the elimination of the mortgage interest rate deduction, would severely hinder the economy in an already slowing housing market. 

Furthermore, Catalde effectively described how local inclusionary zoning ordinances do little to provide affordable housing, and in fact make homes much less affordable for the majority of citizens. The county leaders were so intrigued by the inclusionary zoning discussion that they’ve invited Catalde to speak to their steering committee on Housing and Community Development in Washington, D.C. in March 

The two organizations agreed to work closely on federal issues such as the funding of the community development block grant, the monitoring of any federal legislation on tax reform, green building, and the preservation of the government sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

For more information on this article, e-mail Carlos Gutierrez in NAHB's State & Local Political Operations, or contact him at 800-368-5242 x8242. [ return to top ]