SNHBA News
North Las Vegas Initiates Zoning Ordinance Update
The city of North Las Vegas is amending and rewriting its zoning ordinance to address the land use designations in the newly adopted Comprehensive Master Plan and new trends in planning in the city. The first draft chapter of the ordinance prepared by Clarion Associates consultants to the city will be available soon for review. That chapter deals with the general provisions of the ordinance, and defines the powers of the Planning Commission and City Council in the planning process.
SNHBA will provide updates and reports regarding this process in future builder briefs and links to each of the ordinance chapters as they become available. The city has also established a zoning ordinance focus group and invited SNHBA to join.
Residential New Construction Forum?
Nevada Power invites you to participate in a lunch forum to discuss upcoming initiatives by Nevada Power and energy efficiency issues related to the residential building community. The forum will be held on Friday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nevada Power at 6226 W. Sahara Ave.
The forum will provide homebuilders, major sub-contractors, program administrators and others interested in increasing the efficiency of new homes built in Southern Nevada an opportunity to learn more about:
- energy efficiency tax credit for new residential construction
- new initiative by the Department of Energy, Builders Challenge
- new whole house rebate program by Nevada Power rolling out this summer
This will also be an opportunity for builders and other interested parties to share valuable information on how, as a community, we can increase energy efficiency measures in new residential construction.
Save the Date?
Mark your calendar for Friday, September 26, for the HI-PAC Fall 2008 Golf Tournament. Make plans now to join fellow SNHBA members for a day of golf at the beautiful Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock. With the 2009 Legislative Session coming up, now is the time to support HI-PAC. Sign up to play and/or sponsor the 2008 Fall Tournament. You received the registration form and sponsorship form in the June membership mailing. Be sure to check the SNHBA website for more information.
Summer CSP Class Now Forming
It may be summer, but school's in session at SNHBA. The next course offerings will target the Master CSP designation and kick-off with "(CSP) Certified New Home Sales Professional" to be presented August 13, 14 and 15. The dynamic Kathleen Ray, CSP of Subdivision Sales, Inc. will teach the three-day NAHB University of Housing class. They say that learning is a lifelong experience, so join us to find out how to increase sales during these stagnant market conditions.
SNHBA Oppose Control of Storm Water Discharges
An internal working group, consisting of members from SNHBA and Associated General Contractors, has submitted the fifth set of recommendations to the Storm water Quality Management Committee Stakeholders' Group. The SNHBA/AGC group opposes the adoption of post-construction structural best management practices for the control of storm water discharges, contending there are infrastructures in place that can capture, retain and treat, if necessary, storm and nuisance flows that occur in the Las Vegas Valley.
Since most new development will drain into existing facilities or planned regional detention basins, attention needs to be directed toward the functioning of these facilities as the means for controlling storm water pollutant and sediment loads, rather than requiring costly structural on-site devices. The long-term maintenance of on-site structures to control storm water discharges is complex and may be difficult to achieve. In the fifth report to the SQMC stakeholders, SNHBA/AGC also recommended that fees for permits and inspections should be subject to an audit and review every two years to ensure that the fees are levied correctly.
Wells Fargo Invites SNHBA to Special Meeting
SNHBA member, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, invited SNHBA to make a presentation about the association at the financial institution's Builder Recognition and Workshop Breakfast on June 19 at the Red Rock Resort. SNHBA President Mick Galatio spoke about the benefits of and opportunities for involvement in the association.
The meeting of some 35 Wells Fargo managers and staffers focused on the financial institution's programs and commitment to loans to homebuilders and homebuyers. Galatio and Daniel L. Deutsch, regional builder sales manager in the Builder Division of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, agreed there would be future meetings between SNHBA builder members and Wells Fargo to discuss topics of mutual interest and concern. Wells Fargo recently became the exclusive NAHB Leadership Sponsor.
SNHBA thanks Wells Fargo Home Mortgage for this opportunity to meet with its representatives and promote the benefits of involvement in the association. The company has been a member since 1994 and is sponsor of the Housing Outlook forecast at Southern Nevada Housing Day, a program of SNHBA and corporate partner, Southwest Gas Corp.
