inside
scoop
By
Tara Lightner and Debra Shaw
RRAR Governmental Affairs
New septic inspection
rules leave inspectors scrambling
On
January 24, RRAR’s Government Affairs Committee hosted Ed Duke
and Kent Daeke of Wake County Environmental Services for an information
discussion on the new septic inspections process and proposal for mandatory
inspections in Wake County.
If you have a loyal
and trusted home inspector you refer to your clients to perform septic
inspections, take note. As of January 3, inspectors performing septic
inspections must be certified by the state. The statute does not
require all septic owners to have inspections, but it does set criteria
for inspections, as well as require the inspector be certified. Certain
systems, such as high pressure pump systems, must be inspected on
regular intervals.
Property owners’
rights
In
the name of water quality, residents from across the Triangle could
see a significant erosion of their property rights. In Raleigh and
Wake County alone, thousands of acres could soon be rezoned with new
regulations, which some argue are unnecessary and go well beyond protecting
area water supplies.
Raleigh city
planners have proposed new land use restrictions for the Richland
Creek Watershed, which covers more than 10,000 acres in north Raleigh.
Property owners
must abide by new zoning regulations including increased buffers
and strict impervious surface requirements. Individual property owners
and large landowners will be severely limited with respect to additions,
development and expansions to their property.
Anyone who wants
to exceed the impervious surface thresholds must provide onsite storm
water detention devices and show extensive engineering to justify
the devices. Critics of the new proposals argue that the city's new
requirements are more stringent than the state's mandate.
House of Representatives
passes stimulus package
The
stimulus package announced in mid-January contained important housing
provisions. The National Association of REALTORS® has advocated
FHA reform and increasing loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
for some time. This provision could save home buyers with good credit
between $3,000 and $5,000 per year by not forcing them into the jumbo
mortgage market. This would encourage home sales and help curb the
rise in foreclosures.
President Bush
says such a growth package must also include tax incentives for business
investment and quick tax relief for individuals. The White House
is looking at rebates of up to $800 for individuals, $1,600 for married
couples filing jointly, and an additional $300 for those with children.
|
