The Planning Commission is offering one more opportunity to comment on the proposal to restrict retaining wall construction.  If  you can make the hearing it would bolster our position which is significantly different than that of the Planning Director. 

Even though the subject is number 5 on the agenda I expect the commission will reopen the hearing by 3:40 pm.  The hearing will only be open until all present have had the opportunity to provide their comment. CWHBA plans  to make a statement. The essence of our position is:  to

There are essentially three options on the table right now for retaining walls. Do nothing; identify and ban the wall materials that would not be approved for use; and reconsidering the current draft proposal with some slight modification. The City has been consistent in pushing for an "aesthetic" design standard. But this isn't something the Commission is very excited about.

Besides the "aesthetic design" standard preferred by staff, there are other things to be considered as well. Should walls be allowed to be built on a property line or should they be set back some distance? Should irrigation and landscaping be required? Should walls over a certain height trigger a Class II review?

To this point our position is pretty simple and strictly focused on the integrity of the wall. We'd prefer to modify the proposal to limit the products used to ONLY those that are designed, engineered and manufactured for such use.  

Comp. plan amendments are likely dead for this year. I would be surprised if it was opened for amendment this late in the year.

Yakima County:

The County is moving forward on plans to establish and maintain adequate water resource security in Yakima County in the event of a groundwater access stoppage. They plan to have a program in place within a years' time. A recent public presentation on domestic water issues in Yakima County was held for the members of the Yakima Association of Realtors. Presenters included the Washington Association of Realtors legal counsel and water expert Bill Clarke, Tom Tebb and Bob Barwin with the Department of Ecology and Yakima County Public Services Director Vern Redifer. The CWHBA will be planning a similar presentation for all members of the CWHBA.  

Public Health is trying to get the word out to you all, regarding the Building Permit intake process at CDS.  As of July 15th 2013, regardless of location in the County, it will be required to have an approved Water Adequacy Form in hand, before any building plans or permit applications will be accepted at CDS for review.

On June 26, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM Kittitas County will be holding an open house regarding changes to the county comprehensive plan and code regulations to protect the quality and quantity of ground and surface water. The meeting will be held at the Teanaway Hall at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds. Staff from Kittitas County Community Development Services (KCCDS) and Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) will be present to discuss their efforts to comply with the Growth Management Hearings Board and protect the future of ground and surface water in Kittitas County.

"This is the public's time to ask their questions and give their feedback regarding our efforts," says Dr. Mark Larson, Kittitas County Health Officer.

SAVE THE DATE

The Membership Has Spoken

This year's Annual Yakima Golf Classic will be held on FRIDAY, August 23, 2013 at the Yakima Elk's sponsored by PRO-BUILD!!!!  

This year the Central Washington Home Builders Association will be holding a DAY OF GOLF for our members. This outing will be a great opportunity to unwind, have some fun and get to know some of your fellow members and their guests. On the other side of this flyer is a list of sponsorships for you to look over and see what would best represent your companies needs. Every year we have amazing volunteers who help us plan, set-up, help with games/raffle and all the fun things that go into running a tournament. If you would like to help in any aspect of this event please let me know and I will add you to the committee.   

Regular Team Registration

$300 (Foursome)

May 2 - Until All Team Spots Are Filled

2013 Kittitas

DAY OF GOLF

at Sun Country Golf Course

The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), a measure of home builder confidence, reached a milestone in June. Coming in at a level of 52, the HMI recorded its highest level since April 2006 and its largest monthly jump since 2002.

The index compares the share of builders who believe market conditions are positive with those who believe they are negative. With the index rising above 50, the HMI now indicates that builders seeing a better market outnumber those judging it as poor.

The price of building materials is beginning to come down, and that is one factor lifting builders' spirits. In addition, home builders are seeing increasing numbers of prospective home buyers, attracted to new construction in part due to low existing home inventories as well as historically low interest rates. Rising home prices are also providing home buyers with confidence in the investment value of a home purchase.

According to the Census and HUD, the pace of housing starts in May (a 914,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate) rose 6.8% as apartment construction rebounded from an unusually low April and single-family construction remained virtually even. Regionally, the South was the only region with an increase in single-family starts (12.2%) while the Northeast dropped 20%, the Midwest dropped 15% and the West dropped 4%.

Single-family permits increased by 1.3% to a pace of 622,000, the highest since May 2008. No region experienced a decline. Issued but unused single-family permits were up by double-digit percentages in all three regions with a drop in starts. Stockpiling permits along with above-average precipitation in those same regions suggest single-family starts were held back by wet weather.

Total permits were down 3.7% due to a decline for multifamily permits from an elevated pace in April to a more normal rate of 352,000 for May. This normal level of multifamily construction is sustainable, as absorption rates from the Census Bureau's Survey of Market Absorption of Apartments suggest continued demand for rental properties. Averaged over 2012, apartment three-month absorption rates reached 64% for the year, a level not seen since 2001.

Despite the regional variations in housing construction activity, the recovery for housing continues to be broad based. According to the June NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index, the number of metros continuing to show improvement increased to a count of 263 or 73% of all markets measured. The index is up five markets from May, which had dropped 15 markets from April, the first significant drop since the same time last year.

As noted above, one potential reason for a rise in builder confidence, and one with impacts for all segments of the residential construction industry, is an easing of building material prices.

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Producer Price Indexes for framing lumber and OSB declined from April to May, -7.7% and -10.9% respectively. Increased production in both the U.S. and Canada combined with favorable trade developments, lower exports to China and higher imports from other markets contributed to the declines. Early indications are that the June numbers will add to May's declines.

While welcome relief, these generally lower prices still leave wood product prices at elevated levels. The 67% rise in framing lumber prices from their housing bust lows has been reduced to 54%, but prices are still at 89% of their housing boom peaks. The 151% rise in OSB prices has been reduced to 124%, but prices are still at 62% of their peaks.

Another headwind - worker availability - continues to challenge. At 108,000 in April, the number of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry remains near post-Great Recession highs. This marks four consecutive months for which the total number of open positions was greater than 100,000, the first time this has occurred since a stretch that began in 2007.

Despite the headwinds, underlying the growth in housing construction are slow but steady financial improvements for households. During the first quarter of 2013, household balance sheets improved with increases in home values and reductions in mortgage debt, thereby boosting household net worth. Over the last five quarters household real estate values have risen by more than $2 trillions.

Supported by recent increases in consumer confidence, consumer credit continues to expand. The amount of consumer credit outstanding increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.7% in April, reflecting an expansion in the outstanding amounts of both non-revolving credit (auto loans and student loans) and revolving credit (credit cards).

The 2012 Washington State Energy Code is now available for download via the State Building Code Council website. PDF versions include the WAC 51-11c (Commercial), WAC 51-11R (Residential), and Appendix Chapters.

The BIAW has scheduled 2012 IRC/Energy Code Update Classes throughout the state for BIAW members and non-members which highlight significant changes to the codes.

For more information or questions, contact Jan Rohila at 800-228-4229, ext. 101.

Low Impact Development Webinars!

Join Art Castle for a brief session of LID 101 in a Webinar.  Under Castle's leadership, the HBA of Kitsap County was successful in creating a complete LID environment surrounding the HBA site.   Register for one of the below webinars today!

Tuesday, June 25                   3:00 PM             https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5226686103608428800 

Wednesday, June 26 11:00 AM                   https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8980440791068260096 

What it Means to You

Over the next several years, cities and counties in Eastern and Western Washington have new stormwater and LID requirements to implement.  These new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I and Phase II permits affect 93 cities and nine counties in Western Washington and 18 cities and six counties in Eastern Washington.

The codes that Western Washington cities and counties will review could include Subdivision, Short Plat, Clearing and Grading, Stormwater, Landscaping, Critical Areas Ordinances, and Road, Parking and Utility Standards and many more.

Sign up today to be ready for these changes today!

Questions regarding the webinars, please contact Karen Hall at karenh@biaw.com or 360-352-7800.