Condolences: Harold T. Newton

Harold Truman Newton, of Easley, SC, passed away Tuesday, June 27, 2013 at the Richard Campbell Veterans Nursing Home, Anderson, SC. He was born on March 14, 1921 in Anderson County to the late Truman O. Newton and Jelia Mae Boggs Newton. He was predeceased by his sister, Ruth Newton Hicks of Easley. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patricia Reardon Newton.

He has five sons and nine grandchildren: Gary S. Newton and grandson, Andrew, of Pelzer, SC; Eric A. Newton and wife, Ann, and grandchildren, Allison, Regina, Megan, Kelley and Paul, of Washington, NJ; Miles A. Newton and wife, Laura, and grandchildren Mark, Julie, and Matthew of Hanceville, AL; Harold E. Newton of Pelzer, SC, Alex J. Newton of Columbia, South America.

Harold graduated from Easley High School in 1938. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1942 serving as a pilot in the Southwest Pacific. Following service in WWII, he flew as an Air Force pilot at Donaldson Air Force Base in Greenville until it closed. He then flew with the Georgia Air National Guard, Savannah, GA, until his retirement in 1971. He was a corporate pilot for Ballenger Paving Company from the mid-1950s thru the early 1960s.

Harold had a long career in the building business. His businesses included the Newton-McConnell Lumber Co. and Thermal Insulation and Construction, Inc. He designed and built numerous homes and offices in the Easley and Greenville area, including the only Frank Lloyd Wright house located in upper South Carolina. He served as President of the Home Builders Association of Greenville and the North Greenville Rotary. He retired in 1995 from the building business.

Harold had many interests in life. He played guitar with "The Rhythmaires" for many years. He loved to play competitive table tennis and checkers and was an expert bridge player. He treasured his time with special friends, particularly the breakfast groups. A special thank you to Harold's friends who remained loyal to him to the end.

Harold had a very generous heart. He chose to participate in the Gift of Body Program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Services will be held on Sunday, July 7, at 5 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville where Harold has been a member for over 50 years. The Reverend Susan Crowell will officiate. A reception will follow in the All Purpose Room. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Source:  Greenville News

Governor Approves H.3774, Provides Relief to Home Builders

On July 20, Governor Nikki Haley signed into law H.3774, referred to as the “Permit Extension Bill.” Due to the recent economic downturn, many builders are experiencing financial restrictions that make it difficult to complete projects as originally scheduled. Recognizing that many public and private sector projects could be abandoned due to challenging permit renewal processes, the HBASC pushed for passage of H.3774 to provide relief to builders across South Carolina.

H.3774, modeled after a similar bill from the 2010 session, extends the expiration date of certain permits to prevent the abandonment of projects which have already received appropriate approval. These permits would include erosion and sedimentation control plans, land disturbance permits, stormwater management plans, water or wastewater permits, NPDES permits, water quality certification, air quality permits, OCRM permits, and City/County approval of sketch plans, preliminary plats, subdivision plats, site specific development plan, and a building permit. Any of these permits which are current and valid as of December 31, 2012 would continue to be valid until December 31, 2016.

The HBASC would like to give a special thanks to Representative Dwight Loftis for sponsoring this legislation. A full version of the legislation can be found on the Statehouse website (link for website: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3774.htm).

City sets new parking lot development rules

A parking lot development program created by the City of Greenville, Upstate Forever and Furman University aims to improve water quality in the city and provide developers increased flexibility with new projects.

Greenville City Council recently approved the Fee-in-Lieu of Low Impact Development Parking Program, which gives developers three options when building parking lots in the city.

Developers can build a lot with the minimum required parking spaces; use low-impact development techniques to manage stormwater generated by parking spaces above the minimum required; or pay a $750 fee for each parking space above the minimum.

Read the rest of the story at GSA Business.

HBA of Greenville works to resolve stormwater regulatory issues

Your HBA of Greenville is working to resolve regulatory issues for stormwater management.  This week President Rick Quinn, Executive Vice President Michael Dey, and HBASC Executive Director Mark Nix met with SCDHEC Commissioner Catherine Templeton to discuss the burdens that excessive stormwater regulation is having on home builders.

As a result, SCDHEC has agreed to participate in a Government Affairs Forum hosted by the HBA of Greenville.  HBA members and local government officials will have the opportunity to present to DHEC staff specific examples of how recently-adopted or proposed permits are exceeding requirements of law and negatively impacting home building.

Specifics of the Government Affairs Forum are:

When: July 25, 2013, 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Where: TD Convention Center, Woodside Conference Center

Commissioner Templeton has announced that she will attend the Government Affairs Forum.

Call for Nominations: HBA of Greenville Board of Directors

Dear HBA of Greenville Membership,

The HBA Nominating Committee has begun work on identifying and recommending to the membership a slate of officers and directors for 2013.  Elections will be held at our Annual meeting in November.

If you have an interest in serving in one of the following positions, or know of a member we should consider, please contact Michael Dey, Executive Vice President of the HBA of Greenville, or me or a member of the Nominating Committee.

The following positions on the HBA of Greenville Board of Directors are open for nominations:

• Vice President
• Associate Vice President
• Director, Associate Member (3-year term) (2 vacancies)
• Director, Builder Member (3-year term) (2 vacancies)

In addition, the Nominating Committee recommends to the Board of Directors members to be elected to the HBA of South Carolina Board of Directors and the National Association of Home Builders Board of Director. If you have an interest in serving in one of these capacities, please contact Michael Dey, or me or one of the members of the Nominating Committee.

Click here to send an email to Michael Dey about nominations.

I would like to thank the members of the Nominating Committee for their participation:

• Robert Markel, CGR, Chairman, Hadrian Construction Company
• Rick Quinn, Vice Chairman, Quinn-Satterfield
• Wayne Moore, Chairman, Harold Moore Builder
• Bob Barreto, GBS Building Supply
• Alan Boone, Advanced Renovations
• Mike Freeman, ACA/Freewood Contracting
• Jon Statom, Palmetto Exterminators

Robert Markel, CGR, Immediate Past President

Happy Fourth of July!

The Home Builders Association of Greenville would like to wish you a Happy Fourth of July.  Our office will be closed July 4-5 in observance of the holiday.

2012 IECC will not be adopted in South Carolina

In a victory for HBA members, the South Carolina energy code has been locked in legislatively with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.  The 2012 IECC will not be adopted in South Carolina this year as it will be in many other states.

"This is a significant victory for our members and an example of the excellent work our government affairs team is doing for us in Columbia," Rick Quinn, President of the HBA of Greenville, said.  "Our members will save significantly on construction costs while still building a highly efficient house that is compliant with the 2009 IECC."