Author Archive
18 Mar 2015
JOIN BASE IN SUPPORTING THE NC HOMEOWNERS ALLIANCE
Policies that encourage homeownership, keep insurance rates at affordable levels, and boost property values are vital for millions of working families. That’s why BASE supports the North Carolina Homeowners Alliance. It’s common sense. Fair insurance rates, tax policies that encourage homeownership, and community investments that preserve our state’s history are important to the property owners of
18 Mar 2015
Via StarNews: “Proposal calls for study of Cape Fear River water usages, future demands”
RALEIGH | As communities grow throughout the Cape Fear River basin, a bill recently introduced in the N.C. General Assembly calls for a study of how rising water demands will affect the basin’s long-term supply. House Bill 186, also called the Cape Fear Water Resources Availability Study, asks the state Environmental Review Commission to study the
18 Mar 2015
President Obama Issues Executive Order on Floodplain Development
In addition to the sea level rise work underway at the state level in North Carolina, the federal government is also wading into the issue with President Obama’s recent Executive Order 13690 (EO), creating a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) for federally-funded or federally-approved projects that will expand the definition of “floodplain” and will
18 Mar 2015
Update: Waters of the United States Rules Imminent?
As you’ll recall, in March 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a proposal to revise the rules that regulate the two agencies’ authority as described under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The rule would greatly expand their collective regulatory authority to dictate, regulate and limit land-use
09 Mar 2015
Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders members meet with with Congressman David Rouzer
Special thanks to Congressman David Rouzer for meeting with members of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association this morning at his office in Wilmington. Members discussed a number of federal issues as part of NAHB’s 2015 Legislative Conference.
26 Feb 2015
Kure Beach considering rental regulations. (Unfortunately, they aren’t permitted in NC)
Kure Beach to consider cracking down on vacation rentals (VIA WECT) Kure Beach will consider cracking down on vacation rentals. The Kure Beach Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a special meeting at Town Hall on March 4 to receive public input on a proposed “Vacation Rentals” ordinance. Planning Commission Chairman Craig Galbreith said the
18 Feb 2015
N.C. Appeals Court says state must pay landowners, takes shot at Map Act
You may recall BASE addressing the Corridor Map Act during the 2011 General Assembly via SB214. This bill limited the amount of time that land could be encumbered by the Map Act and was signed by the governor as SL2011-242. Recently, the NC Court of Appeals took up the issue as well. From the Winston-Salem
04 Feb 2015
Congressional hearing: Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments
This morning at 10 AM is a joint hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. You can watch online at the link below. http://transportation.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=398554 Panel I The Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army,
27 Jan 2015
Sunday StarNews cover story on Homeowners Insurance, consent to rate letters and potential legislative action
Lawmakers hear uproar over ballooning homeowner insurance rates WILMINGTON | Insurance companies are using a decades-old law to push higher-than-approved homeowner insurance rates on North Carolinians, says Sen. Michael Lee, calling the statute a loophole that needs to be closed. Lee, R-New Hanover, who is on the Senate Insurance Committee, said he is going to
27 Jan 2015
EPA Publishes Final Water Science Report , the main basis for Waters of the US Rulemaking
On January 23, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development released the final science report, Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters. You’ll remember that this Science Report, in draft form, was the basis for the Waters of the US Rulemaking which caused so much distress in 2014. Well, now the