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development and the adoption process, energy savings for Texas, Texas climate zones, and an overview of the commercial and residential code.
A special thank you to the efforts of GHBA President Mike Dishberger, Sandcastle Homes; Clayton Farmer, BlueGi l l Energy Management; Kathy Howard, Environments for Living; Denny Patterson, Airtron Houston; John Williams, Brighton Homes; and Dale Berman, Builders First Source. These ladies and gentlemen testified at City Council on behalf of the industry, and assisted in informing the council members of the repercussions of harsh mandates on energy efficiency for housing affordability in Houston. Please congratulate them on their efforts and a job well done!
As this is an agenda item that will be revisited these next two years, please contact Maggie Yancey, myancey@ghba. org or 281-970-8970 ext. 142 if you’re interested in working with the CIC and the City on this issue.
Chapter 42
City Council held a public hearing on December 7, 2011 on Chapter 42, the City of Houston’s development code. It would enable the expansion of the urban boundary out to Beltway 8. Since 1999, the urban boundary has been I-610, and the City has held a density cap for development of 27 homes per acre under the “urban area” rules.
The changes include neighborhood protections to safeguard certain communities by limiting the lot size. Another ordinance amendment would require builders of multi-unit properties to provide guest parking in addition to other parking requirements. One guest parking space would be required for every six units built.
The ordinance was delayed after Wednesday’s public hearing and will be presented to the new Council in 2012. There will be a public meeting on the protections provided to the neighborhoods.
10 JANUARY 2012 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
The GHBA is actively working to ensure the language and changes made to Chapter 42 are in the best interest of the development community. There may be some changes that we respectfully request a council member to present as a table amendment to the ordinance, but we are fully in support of the extension of the urban boundary to Beltway 8.
A special thank you to all of those who participated in stakeholder conversations and to those who testified at the public hearing including: GHBA President Mike Dishberger, Sandcastle Homes; Mary Lou Henry, Vernon G. Henry & Associates Inc.; David Hale, David Weekley Homes; Chris Weekly, David Weekley Homes; Russel Garrison, Loyd Russel Homes; Steve Rudin; Loyd Russel Homes; Chad Muir, Rohe and Wright; Megan Sigler, Perry Homes; and Adam Aschmann, Tilson Homes. The GHBA will continue to update you on the progress of this issue.
Metal Theft
On December 8, the Volume Builders Council held a meeting to discuss the huge metal and copper theft issue in the region. At the table were representatives from Harris County, Lieutenant Jeff Stauber and
Sergeant Fredrick Persons; and from the City of Houston Police Department, Chief George Buenik, Lieutenant Sam Kennedy, and Sergeant Mike McGinty.
The committee shared testimonies of the thousands of dollars many of their companies have lost to metal theft, and HPD presented the initiatives the department is taking to combat the crime. The County is limited in the amount of enforcement that is permissible by law, therefore the GHBA along with HPD will work to have conversations with those in Harris County and the surrounding counties to make metal and copper theft a priority.
Here is a link to a press conference recently given at Center Point Energy by the Houston Police Department: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=FEaMbXy7pJs
The GHBA is actively engaged in government affairs with the local municipalities around Houston and the greater area counties, as well as at the national level. If you become aware of an issue or item of interest, please contact Maggie Yancey, GHBA Government Affairs and Communications Specialist at
myancey@ghba.org or call (281)-970- 8970 ext. 142.
At Houston City Council (from L to R): Steve Rudin; Lloyd Russel Homes; Chad Muir, Rohr and Wright; Russel Garrison, Lloyd Russel Homes; David Hale, David Weekly Homes; Chris Weekly, David Weekly Homes; and Mary Lou Henry, Vernon G. Henry & Associates, Inc.
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