GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS


GHBA Advocacy Report


City of Houston Stormwater Detention Requirements


Over the last year, the GHBA Government Affairs Committee and In-Town Builder Taskforce have worked on improving the City of Houston Public Works Department’s (PWE) proposed revisions to Chapter 9 and Chapter 13 of the Infrastructure Design Manual. Chapters 9 and 13 provide informa- tion regarding stormwater detention requirements for development in the City of Houston.


By CASEY WATTS MORGAN, GHBA Director of Government Affairs


Last April, PWE released revisions that would re- duce the allowable percentage of impervious cover for single family residential lots 15,000 square feet or less from 75 percent to 50 percent. This change would essentially require almost all single family residential lots to provide onsite detention.


Since that time, GHBA drafted a proposal that would allow builders and remodelers to pay a fee in-lieu of onsite detention when exceeding the impervious cover limit. Further, GHBA argued that the money collected through this fee could be used for local drainage improvement projects, such as cleaning out culverts in the watershed area of the home or remodeling project.


GHBA members also argued that lowering the impervious cover limit to 50 percent would be devastating to the home building industry as it would likely result in individual detention ponds on small residential lots. For more information on GHBA’s public comments, visit: bit.ly/1m1heX3


You Have a Voice with GAC!


If you have questions about this article or


would like to get involved on the Government


Affairs Committee, call (281) 970-8970, x142 or email Casey at


cmorgan@ghba.org. 8


This February, Government Affairs Committee members met with Mayor Parker and pressed her on these issues. Unfortunately, the Mayor did not accept our recommendation for a fee in-lieu of onsite detention. However, she did argue that when the City of Houston develops more regional detention sites, the fee in-lieu of onsite detention proposal could be an option.


In the meantime, she offered to raise the proposed impervious cover limit to 65 percent and change Chapter 13 in order to allow builders and remod- elers to use porous pavement. Specifically, she proposed allowing porous pavement for residential driveways to be determined as pervious for up to 10 percent of the lot.


However, weeks later during a City Council commit- tee hearing, the PWE Director presented different information contrary to the policy alternatives discussed with the Mayor.


As a result, GHBA continues to conduct meet- ings with the Mayor’s staff in an attempt to negotiate revisions and improvements to PWE’s Chapters 9 and 13 proposals.


This issue remains a major priority for the Government Affairs Committee. The government affairs team will keep GHBA members apprised of new information and updates.


For access to PWE’s currently proposed require- ments please see: http://bit.ly/1kdWqdW


May Elections


Don’t forget, if you live in Senate District 4, vote in the May 10 Special Election for Brandon Creighton. Representative Creighton announced that he would seek Senator Tommy Williams’ senate seat in District 4 following Williams’ announcement to retire last year.


Senate District 4 includes Montgomery, Chambers and Jefferson Counties as well as parts of Harris and Galveston Counties.


In December 2013, the GHBA HOME-PAC proudly endorsed Representative Creighton in his senate race. Representative Creighton is currently serving his fourth term in the Texas House. While in office, he has served on the Insurance, International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs, and Redistricting Committees. Representative Creighton is also a residential developer and vice president of Signorelli Company, a member of the GHBA located in Conroe.


Also, on May 27, remember to vote in the state- wide primary runoff. The GHBA HOME-PAC has en- dorsed the following candidates in the upcoming runoff: for Lieutenant Governor, David Dewhurst; for House District 16, Will Metcalf; for House District 132, Ann Hodge and for Montgomery County Judge, Craig Doyal.


Early voting for the May primary runoff will run from the 19th to the 23rd. Make your vote count!


MAY 2014 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE


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