Planning Commission Tables Zoning Overlay District Ordinance

The Greenville County Planning Commission voted to table a proposed ordinance that would allow for the creation of zoning overlay districts throughout the zoned areas of Greenville County. The ordinance is in response to a subdivision in Southern Greenville County that was approved for single-family residences under the existing R-S zoning classification, but has recently been marketed for "mobile home sites" which are permitted under the existing zoning classification subject to specific restrictions.

The Legislative Committee of your Home Builders Association, chaired by Home Builder Rick Quinn, reviewed the ordinance and concluded that it is not in the best interest of Home Builders or the county. They concluded that the ordinance does not solve the problem of allowing manufactured housing by right in the R-S and other zoning districts, and would implement an entirely new layer of zoning in the county at a time when the county is nearing completion of a new Comprehensive Land Use Plan. They also concluded that an overlay district over the existing zoned areas will affect the value of the underlying property because a purchaser can not depend on the base zoning remaining valid.

The issue is not completely resolved because it could come up again before County Council.

Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, Chosen for Lifetime Achievement Award

HBA of Greenville member Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, has been chosen by the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia to receive The Lifetime Achievement Award at the REGAL Awards Gala in Columbia on February 20, 2010.

This prestigious award recognizes "those individuals who maintain their commitment, focus, and energy over a lifetime of superlative results singled out for the leadership and inspiration they provide to others."

Hal is a long-time member of the Home Builders Association of South Carolina, and is active in our local association. He serves on the committees for the Southern Home & Garden Show and Parade/Tour of New Homes, and his company, RESH Marketing Consultants, is marketing consult for the HBA of Greenville.

Past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include: Tom Jenkins, J. Allen Shumaker, Michael J. Mungo, E.D. Sauls, Bob Capes and M.C. Smith.


Congratulations, Hal!

BREAKING NEWS: Boeing picks North Charleston

Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that it has chosen its North Charleston, S.C., facility as the location for a second final assembly site for the 787 Dreamliner program. Officials anticipate that the new plant will create up to 1,300 jobs. Read more at Charleston.net.

Less than 1% of homes in Greenville, Spartanburg MSA in foreclosure

The Greenville and Spartanburg metro areas ranked 84 and 172 out of 203 major metropolitan areas in the United States in foreclosures, according to data released this morning from a national real estate tracking firm.

Read more at GSA Business.

Housing = Jobs: NAHB's Efforts to Extend the Tax Credit

With the expiration of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit just weeks away, NAHB last week stepped up its “Revive Housing, Restore America” campaign, asking association members to participate in a grassroots push for the extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit.

Members are encouraged to log on to www.capitolconnect.com/builderlink to send a letter to their individual lawmakers or call 866-924-6242 (NAHB) and urge their senators and representative to extend and expand the home buyer tax credit to create jobs, reduce foreclosures and excess housing inventories, and to push housing and the economy on the path to recovery.

In the first year, NAHB estimates that an extended and expanded home buyer tax credit would:

Create nearly 350,000 jobs
Spur an additional 383,000 home sales
Increase housing starts by 82,000
Generate $16.1 billion in wages and salaries and $12.1 billion in business income
Yield tax revenues of $8.4 billion for the federal government and $3.2 billion for state and local governments

Click here for more on efforts to extend the tax credit from NAHB.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Vote is Coming: Do Your Part to Help!

The first vote on the new home buyer tax credit will be this week, possibly as early as tomorrow.

Do your part to help your industry by clicking here to send an e-mail to your two senators TODAY!

Check www.fixhousingfirst.com for the latest updates on the progress of the legislation. You can also follow the Fix Housing First coalition on Twitter @fixhousingfirst.