DAR Meets with DNREC Secretary Hughes on PCS:
DAR and a coalition of interested associations and organizations met with Secretary Hughes on April 3rd to discuss revisions to the Pollution Control Strategy for the Inland Bays. The Secretary intends to publish the revised regulations by May 15th.
Secretary Hughes appeared before the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee on April 9th to lay out his plan which includes utilization of primary and secondary buffers with a process to challenge the map. DNREC would require a 100 foot buffer for primary water features with options for reduction to 50 foot and secondary buffer widths of 60 and 30 feet. DNREC intends to make changes to the septic portion of the initial draft regulations but has not released any details at this time. For more information, please contact Charlotte Herbert at charlotte@delawarerealtor.com or (302) 734-4444, etc. 12.
HB 344:
Legislation banning deed restrictions or covenants which ban the use of wind energy systems in residential areas is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, April 16th at 4:00 p.m. in the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee. DAR is concerned about the legislation's infringement on private property rights. Please contact Committee Chairman Representative Gerald Hocker at (302) 744-4381 or Vice-Chairman Representative Joe Booth at (302) 744-4251 to express your views, AND
join fellow REALTORS® at Legislative Hall on April 16th.
Tax Ditch:
The Tax Ditch Right-of-Way Task Force of which DAR President-Elect Lauren Alberti is a member, will meet on Wednesday, April 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Majority House Hearing Room at Legislative Hall. The Task Force will vote on final recommendations. The Task Force will be making recommendations on deferment of HB 475, reduction of Rights-of-Way, points of reference, grandfathering provisions, new and rebuilt structures, developing lands, appeals, and education and outreach.
Overlay Zones:
DAR and the Homebuilders Association of Delaware met with DNREC to discuss adding crucial notification provisions to HB 306, legislation clarifying the ability to use overlay zones. We expect to receive new language shortly.
Fair Housing Month:
DAR President Don Ash joined Governor Minner, the State Human Relations Commission and Housing Opportunities of Northern Delaware in proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month. President Ash said "DAR members embrace our state's racial and ethnic diversity and strive to make the benefits of real property ownership available to all. Our three local organizations are committed to promoting diversity throughout the year and are sharing in promoting fair housing this month through a number of programs." For more information,
please contact your local REALTOR
® organization.
DAR Visits with Senator Tom Carper:
Representatives from DAR met with Senator Carper to discuss FHA and GSE reform, health care reform, foreclosures, reauthorization of the NFIP and a number of other issues important to the real estate industry. If you would like to get involved in DAR's legislative program, please contact Charlotte Herbert at
charlotte@delawarerealtor.com or (302) 734-4444, ext. 12. Visit
DAR's website for event photos.
Sussex County TIF and SDD's:
HB 311, an act to amend Title 7 enabling Sussex County to create Tax Increment Financing Districts and to utilize tax increment financing and Special Development District Financing to fund costs related to development and redevelopment was reported out of the House Housing and Community Affairs Committee on April 9th with two favorable and six on its merits.
DREC News:
The Delaware Real Estate Commission held their monthly meeting on April 10 and approved 47 new licensees and 6 new offices. Issues discussed included: 1) updating the Property Disclosure Form, 2) meeting with the Sunset Committee for statute review, 3) adding qualifications to become a Broker of Record that may include having a defined FICO score or possibly a check box on renewal form stating that you have not filed for bankruptcy.
The Commission is also looking at having resident and non-resident licensees renew their license on the same year instead of the odd-even years as it is now. The DREC Education Committee is looking to change some of their rules and will schedule a public hearing on their next meeting date of May 1. The annual DREC seminar will be held on Sept. 11 and will count for 3 hours of Legislative Update. Place and instructor are pending.
Livable Delaware:
The Livable Delaware Advisory Council will meet on April 25th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Tatnall Building to review both Kent and Sussex Counties' Comprehensive Plan.
Delaware Clean Water Advisory Council:
The Council will meet on April 16th at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room 400B at DTCC's Terry Campus in Dover. The CWAC will present FY '09 Project List and Intended Use Plan, update project status under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, hear financial report on the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, discuss the Bond Bill Committee hearing and Surface Water Management Request, receive a Tax-Ditch-Right-Of-Way Task Force update, summary of the Rehoboth Beach workshop, Bethany Anchorage Canal Project and discuss the Sussex level of surface preliminary results and stakeholder workshop. For more information, please call the DCWAC at (302) 739-9941.
DAR Legislative Action Day:
Please join fellow REALTORS
® from across the state in Dover on Thursday, May 8th to say NO to an increase in the realty transfer tax, to say NO to takings without just compensation and NO to legislation banning deed restrictions or covenants which prohibit wind energy systems.
DAR will hear from Senate Majority Leader DeLuca (invited), House Majority Leader Cathcart and Governor Minner's Chief of Staff Mark Brainard and be joined by many other members of the General Assembly at lunch. After lobbying your legislator, join members of the General Assembly, their staff and fellow REALTORS® at a reception at DAR.
To register, visit www.delawarerealtor.com or for more information, please contact Charlotte Herbert at charlotte@delawarerealtor.com or (302) 734-4444, ext. 12.
