Building Industry Association
of San Diego

The County Board of Supervisors voted to reduce its Transportation Impact Fee Program by $500 million.  The major reduction is due to its new General Plan that directs future growth closer to existing towns and infrastructure resulting in a less expansive road network.

Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the BIA preferred option that creates a built in credit program for residential and non-residential developments and reduces the total program costs from $935 million to $420 million.  Fees will drop an average of 45% county wide with the North County region experiencing the largest reduction of 60%. 

The board directed staff to return with an ordinance within 120 days and to work with the regulated community to ensure the plan is consistent with the mitigation fee act that prevents jurisdictions from overcharging for project impacts.

Home Builders Marketing Services, a new homes sales and marketing firm based in Encinitas, has been retained to handle sales and marketing for Hawks Nest, a five-home community in San Marcos by Alliance Development, according to Mark Hoiseth, Director of Sales and Marketing for Home Builders Marketing Services.

     Construction recently got under way on the Hawks Nest community, which is located minutes north of the 78 freeway and the new Palomar Hospital with construction financing provided by Seattle Funding Group of California.

     The homes will feature large lots with panoramic views, and have no HOA or Mello-Roos fees.  Three of the homes will be single-level designs with 3 bedrooms. The other two homes will be 2 story homes with 4 bedrooms and a loft. All homes will have 3 car garages. Prices at Hawks Nest are expected to start in the mid-$400s.

     “This is a unique opportunity for North County homeseekers,” said Hoiseth.  “We have already sold one home before starting any marketing program, and there is little inventory available on the market.  These homes should sell quickly.”

     For more information, call Mark Hoiseth at 760-814-0660 or email mark@homebuildersmarketing.com.  Visit www.hawksnestsanmarcos.com.

The County Board of Supervisors will consider multiple plans to reduce its Traffic Impact Fees when the Board convenes Wednesday morning.  The TIF reduction is a byproduct of the new General Plan that directs future growth closer to existing towns and infrastructure. The modified plan  results in reduced road capacity needs in the unincorporated area. The existing plan is valued at  $935 million but the revised road network costs could could range from $420 million to $535 million under various financing options under consideration by the Supervisors.

One option would allow for credit and reimbursement agreements but results in the more costly $535 million program while the BIA supported option negates credit and reimbursement agreements and reduces program costs to $420 million.  The modified fees are expected to be in place next month.

Last Thursday, Wardell Builders and San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles magazine hosted a party celebrating a Wardell built Craftsman home that will grace their July 2012 issue. The soiree, featuring the home on the water in Del Mar, was held on the roof deck at Wardell Builders. The architect, Richard Bokal of Bokal-Sneed, effortlessly blended the best of traditional design, Cape Cod, and modernist architectural elements to make the home a masterpiece. The interior design followed suit with the architecture and smoothly blended traditional and contemporary. The home features a well thought out courtyard that sits to the southeast, and houses a small pool and a spacious spa. The home’s clean lines were executed flawlessly by the craftsmen at Wardell Builders. All sightlines from the dining room, open kitchen, and living room lead the eye directly to the sand and the Pacific Ocean. The architect leveraged every opportunity to showcase ocean views throughout the interior.

Wardell Builders was honored to receive the cover of San Diego Home/Garden Lifestlyes, and the party was a great way to celebrate. A live pianist performed as photographs of all phases of construction were projected against the wall.  A mix of interior designers, architects, tradesmen, and past clients were in attendance.

Molly Wardell

Marketing Director

Wardell Builders, Inc

649 Valley Avenue, Suite A
Solana Beach, CA  92075 

(858) 793-4190 ext.112

New legislation passed recently which affects the building industry is taking effect on July 1^st.  New rules regarding Preliminary Lien Noticing, Lien releases for Progress Payments, Unconditional Lien Releases, etc. are at the heart of this new law.  If you are a Sub-Contractor, General Contractor, or Developer, these new laws WILL EFFECT your business.

BIA is considering holding an educational seminar on these changes.  If you are interested in learning more and feel that an educational seminar would be a worthwhile endeavor, contact Mike McSweeney at mmcsweeney@biasandiego.org and let him know you’re interested.  Based on the number of responses, BIA will make a determination regarding holding the seminar.

The County Board of Supervisors will consider a Climate Action Plan to comply with state mandates to reduce greenhouse gases when it convenes on Wednesday. Assembly Bill 32 requires a statewide reduction of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020. The County plan set a reduction target of 15% below 2005 levels by 2020 which corresponds to the California Air Recourses Board Recommendations and is consistent with other local jurisdictions. Concerns remain over manufacturing and warehouse facilities because of limited mitigation options to offset vehicle trips. The BIA is advocating for a flexible plan with a menu of options necessary to properly comply with the new requirements.

Menas Realty Company has been awarded the Management of Candera Homeowner Association.  These new homes are located within a San Marcos enclave setting with  a total of 58 homes which will offer 50 attached ranging in size from 1,524 – 2,014 sq ft, up to 4 bedrooms, 3 bath and 2 car garages.  These are starting in the low $300.000’s   The 8 single family detached homes will range in size from 2,336-2,904 sq ft with up to 5 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3 car garages.   These are starting in the low $400,000.

Menas Realty Company looks forward to working with everyone at Candera Homeowners Association.  The  Grand Opening of Candera will be July 7^th, 2012.

Julie Menas

President

Menas Realty Company

Managing Homeowner Associations since 1973

www.menas.com

858-270-7870 x 31

Add Escondido to the growing list of North County Cities who have adopted “by right” fee deferrals.  On June 13^th the City Council voted 4-1 (Diaz no) to defer impact fees until Final Inspection or one year from permit issuance (whichever occurs first).  The Mayor, Council members, and City staff have been open to hearing ideas from BIA on how to make Escondido a more attractive place to do business.  If you get a chance, contact the Mayor Sam Abed or Councilmembers, Marie Waldron, Ed Gallo, and Mike Morasco.  Their e-mail addresses are simple:  their first initial, last name@escondido.org.  I’m sure they’d appreciate the positive acknowledgement.

Scott Sherman, Next 7th District City Councilmember

With nearly all of  the remaining absentee and provisional ballots counted in the San Diego City Council 7th District, businessman and BIA backed candidate, Scott Sherman has pulled off an outright Primary Election win with 50.30% of the total votes. According to the Registrar of Voters Office, only a handful of ballots in the 7th district remain which should not affect Sherman’s above 50% finish which negates the need for a November runoff.  Sherman took 51% of the vote on Election Day but more than 180,000 absentee and provisional ballots had yet be be counted. Over the course of a week Sherman’s lead began to diminish to a low of 50.19% prior to yesterday’s announcement by the Registrars of Voters Office.

Sherman’s victory puts the council at a 50/50 Republican – Democrat split with only the 1st council district yet to be decided in November.  Businessman, Ray Ellis, bested incumbent Sherry Lightner by taking 46% of the votes in the four-candidate primary but since no one finished with more than 50%, the top two finishers (Ellis and Lightner) will face off in November.

The San Diego City Council vowed to aggressively pursue Community Plan updates  in the coming years in order to responsibly plan for the city’s growing population.  The commitment was made as the Council voted to modify a host of fees levied for various city services including the General Plan Maintenance Fee which is used to fund Community Plan Updates.  The city is years behind schedule in its updates  – a fact pointed out by the BIA during public testimony.

The council agreed with several of the BIA’s requests to expedite Community Plan Updates including a minimum completion of 2 plans annually, regular status reports to the City Council, and placing funds in a lockbox to ensure they can only be used for their intended purpose.

Councilmember Todd Gloria took the matter a step further by requesting that staff prioritize community plans in order of growth potential and to pursue Program EIRs that will result in more efficient environmental review.  Gloria also asked staff to  present progress reports to a city subcommittee every six months.

Of the 168 fees that were reviewed, the City Council reduced 44 fees and eliminated 24 others outright.