Posted on July 9, 2019
The City of Charlotte is hosting a second pair of community meetings this week to discuss proposed changes to its Minimum Housing Code, which are scheduled to be considered by a City Council committee on July 17th.
REBIC and other industry groups have expressed concern that the proposed changes Ordinance could negatively impact housing affordability by raising the cost of property management and code compliance for landlords.
Posted June 28, 2019
The City of Charlotte is considering revisions to its Minimum Housing Code Ordinance, with changes that could impact housing affordability by raising the cost of property management and code compliance for landlords.
A full list of the proposed changes is available here, along with the presentation made last week to City Council’s Neighborhood Development Committee. They include:
Posted June 27, 2019
Charlotte City Council voted Monday night on controversial amendments to the Noise Ordinance, but REBIC and our partner associations have successfully advocated for the removal of a highly problematic provision that impacted home builders, developers and general contractors.
Among its many provisions, the amendments under consideration on Monday would allow the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) to designate specific construction sites as ‘chronic noise producers’ and require the creation of a formal plan to mitigate noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. This designation is already used (though very sparingly) to address issues that arise with other businesses, like bars and nightclubs.
Posted June 26, 2019
The North Carolina Senate this week advanced legislation supported by REBIC, the North Carolina Association of Realtors® (NCR), NAIOP Charlotte, and other industry trade groups that would clarify that residential and commercial Property Management agreements are largely not subject to the state’s Repair, Maintenance & Installation (RMI) sales tax.
SB 523 — Revenue Laws Clarifying & Administrative Changes, passed the Senate on Thursday with an amendment that requires Property Management companies to charge and remit RMI sales tax only in the following circumstances:
Posted June 26, 2019
NAIOP works with chapters to engage with state leaders on legislative proposals and policies that impact commercial real estate. A key event in many states is a “Day at the Capitol,” which gives members the opportunity to meet state policymakers and discuss important issues.
Members of NAIOP’s three North Carolina chapters (Charlotte, North Carolina Piedmont Triad and Raleigh Durham) converged in Raleigh to take part in the annual event. They discussed topics that are important to NAIOP North Carolina including economic development, tax reform and regulatory reform. For example, the state alliance is supporting a legislative effort to clarify that property management fees on service contracts (general repair and maintenance) are not subject to the sales and use tax.
NAIOP North Carolina also hosted a breakfast for more than 30 members and officials. Several state legislators attended the event to learn more about NAIOP and its legislative priorities.
Posted June 25, 2019
This past Wednesday, REBIC and representatives from the Cabarrus Chapter of the Greater Charlotte HBA met with Cabarrus County Planning staff to discuss a recent proposal to increase planning, zoning, and some building inspection fees. The increases would impact both commercial and residential zonings in unincorporated Cabarrus County, as well as construction projects countywide.
Staff has proposed that these new fees will go into effect starting January 1, 2020. Along with changes in the cost of permit fees, staff is also proposing changing new construction permits to a single permit. Many of the changes result from a shift from a fee structure based on estimation of cost per project, to one based on square footage.
Posted June 18, 2019
Charlotte's planning staff is working on a proposal to amend the City's Tree Ordinance in an attempt to make it easier for urban infill sites to comply. The draft proposal, created through a stakeholder process that included representatives from REBIC, neighborhood groups and environmental advocates, would provide for better integration of trees into small residential and commercial projects, potentially minimizing the need for offsite mitigation. The proposal does not reduce the total amount of trees required on a site, however.
Some of the proposed changes include:
The changes would apply only to urban zoning districts (UMUDD, MUDD, TOD, UR, NS, PED and TS), along with any project with ground-floor nonresidential uses. The proposed changes are expected to go to City Council for consideration in September.
Posted June 17, 2019
Last week saw multiple pieces of legislation receive consideration.
House Bill 131 “Repeal Map Act.” received final approval by the Senate on Wednesday. It has now been sent to the Governor for his signature. As we discussed last week, this legislation would formally repeal the state’s Map Act which has been in place for more than thirty years. Enacted initially to give the Department of Transportation the ability to identify land to be used in future transportation corridors, it has been found to have been used to hold lands in perpetuity with no just compensation to the property owner nor actual projects being scheduled/funded. If approved by the Governor, this will be a significant win for property rights in North Carolina.
Senate Bill 573 “Revenue Laws Clarifying & Administrative Changes” received a favorable report from the Senate Finance and Senate Rules committees this week. Included in this 41-page bill are additional clarifications to the repair, maintenance, and installation (RMI) tax requirements in response to our advocacy on behalf of residential and commercial property managers. The legislation exempts certain RMI from taxation when performed by a property management company and clarifies when the taxes are required to be collected. Specifically, the bill requires property management companies to charge and remit RMI sales tax only in the following circumstances:
Posted June 13, 2019
The North Carolina General Assembly advanced legislation supported by REBIC, the North Carolina Association of Realtors® (NCR) and other industry trade groups that would clarify that residential and commercial Property Management agreements are largely not subject to the state’s Repair, Maintenance & Installation (RMI) sales tax.
SB 523 — Revenue Laws Clarifying & Administrative Changes, was given a favorable report this morning by the Senate Finance committee, with an amendment that requires Property Management companies to charge and remit RMI sales tax only in the following circumstances:
The amendment also provides specific exclusions to RMI services, which help ensure much of the work done by property management companies is not subject to taxation. They are:
Posted on June 10, 2019
On Monday, June 3, 2019, proposed fee changes were presented to the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners by the Director of Planning and a consultant that assisted with the fee study. Along with changes in the cost of permit fees, staff is proposing changing new construction permits to a single permit (blanket permits).
On June 19, 2019, Cabarrus County Planning staff is inviting builders to come to an open session from 1-3pm in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center. During this session staff will discuss why these fees are being proposed, give examples of how fees are charged now, and what the fees would be if adopted as proposed. Staff will be able to answer any questions and hear any feedback that you have.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Cabarrus County Government Resource Center - Multipurpose Room
65 Church Street S.
Concord, NC 28025
Posted on June 12, 2019
The City of Charlotte is in the process of creating a comprehensive plan outlining our community’s vision of how we want to grow and the steps needed to get there. If you are passionate about our City and want to make a big impact, please consider becoming a Charlotte Future 2040 Plan Ambassador or a Charlotte Future 2040 Strategic Advisor.
Plan Ambassadors will help spread the word about the comprehensive plan and enhance engagement by assisting with outreach efforts.
Posted June 7, 2019
At a recent meeting with City staff and representatives from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), representatives from REBIC, NAIOP Charlotte and AGC Carolinas raised objections to the Noise Ordinance revisions being proposed by the City of Charlotte.
Among other things, the amendments would allow CMPD to designate specific construction sites as ‘chronic noise producers’ and require the creation of a formal plan to mitigate noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.
Our three main concerns with the ordinance are:
Posted on June 10, 2019
On Monday, June 3, 2019, proposed planning and zoning fee changes were presented to the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, based on a recent study evaluating the potential to move to a full cost-recovery model. Along with changes in the cost of permit fees, staff is proposing changing new construction permits to a single permit (blanket permits).
On Wednesday, June 19, Cabarrus County Planning staff is inviting builders to come to an open session from 1-3 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center. During this session staff will discuss why these fees are being proposed, give examples of how fees are charged now, and what the fees would be if adopted as proposed. Staff will be able to answer any questions and hear any feedback that you have.
Cabarrus County Development Fee Meeting
Wednesday, June 19
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Cabarrus County Government Resource Center – Multipurpose Room
65 Church Street S.
Concord, NC 28025
*It is very important that we have a strong showing at this meeting with staff*
Posted June 6, 2019
As it prepares to take over development plan review from Mecklenburg County on July 1st, the Town of Huntersville has amended its fee schedule to include the current (FY 2018) LUESA fees for land development plan review, bond maintenance and other related services. The fees are substantially lower than those proposed by Mecklenburg County in FY 2019 and 2020, which will increase more than 200% over a two-year period.
The main services the Town will take over from LUESA include development plan review; zoning, development and erosion control inspections; and bond administration. Five new positions have been created to provide these services, and the Town expects to have them in place within the next two months. The positions include a Street Inspector, an Erosion Control Inspector, a Bond Administrator, a Stormwater Plan Review and a Zoning Inspector.
Posted on May 29, 2019
Thank you to everyone who came out on Thursday, May 16, for the first annual NAIOP Charlotte/CRCBR TopGolf Tournament at TopGolf Charlotte.
Check back for more photos next week!
Posted on May 5, 2019
A significant number of Mecklenburg County property owners will see an increase in their tax bill this year under a budget proposal unveiled recently by County Manager Dena Diorio, which would adopt a tax rate almost 2 cents, or 3.3 percent, above revenue-neutral.
With an average property value increase of more than 50% following a countywide revaluation, the tax rate at which the County would collect the same amount of total revenue (known as the ‘revenue-neutral’ rate) is 59.7 cents per $100 of assessed value. The manager’s budget proposes a rate of 61.69 cents per $100, or 1.99 cents above revenue neutral. The impact of the higher rate means more than 65% of all Mecklenburg County homeowners, and more than 71% of all commercial property owners, will see higher tax bills this year.
Posted on April 30, 2019
The City of Charlotte is considering revisions to its Noise Ordinance that would allow the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) to designate specific construction sites as 'chronic noise producers' and require a the creation of a formal plan to mitigate noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.
The changes, approved last week by City Council's Neighborhood Development Committee, are part of an extensive update of the 2011 Noise Ordinance, which also include the creation of noise buffers around schools, churches or health care facilities, and tighter restrictions on the use of amplified sound. In addition to giving CMPD the authority to make the chronic noise designation, the ordinance would create escalating fines for repeat violations and add specific examples of construction equipment for greater clarity.
The proposed Noise Ordinance changes are available on the City's website. REBIC will be reviewing the ordinance with our general contractor members in the coming weeks to determine how to address the proposed changes.
Posted on April 26, 2019
Developing leader members of NAIOP Charlotte volunteered at The Harvest Center on April 24, 2019 where they helped serve dinner and facilitated activities with the kids!
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Posted on April 23, 2019
The Charlotte City Council unanimously approved a new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Ordinance, which sets standards for commercial and residential development in the city’s light rail corridor.
REBIC and our members worked closely with City planning staff on the ordinance over the past 18 months, and we are generally pleased with the final product. Many of our suggestions — from changes in maximum parking ratios to additional development incentives — were included in the final draft adopted by Council last week. Our only remaining significant concern remains the 130′ building height limitation, which can only be exceeded through the use of a bonus point system that encourages affordable housing investments, energy efficient construction, or the contribution of offsite infrastructure.
While we support each of these policy goals, we believe City Council should do everything possible to encourage density in our transit corridors, and not restrict itself from considering economic development opportunities that would otherwise be limited by the building height caps in each TOD district.
Posted on April 22, 2019
We are proud to introduce our new association members! The following is a list of individuals who have joined NAIOP Charlotte since January 29, 2019:
