REBIC - In the Loop

Protected: Council Considers Expansion of Rental Registration Program

REBIC — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:55:04 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Protected: Belmont Proposing Garage Setback Requirement

REBIC — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:59:20 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

State Building Code Effective Dates Delayed

REBIC — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:19:41 +0000

Mecklenburg County has announced it will continue to accept and issue building permits under both the 2009 Energy Code and Residential Code until June 1, 2012. The decision is based on the conflicting adoption dates that have come out of the Building Code Council and the State Legislature. Also, code books have not been available during the transition period and training for code officials has not been completed. The 2012 Electrical Code is still awaiting legislative action, and is not expected to be adopted until at least summer of this year. The 2008 Electrical code will be enforced in the meantime.

Protected: City Agrees to Address REBIC Concerns with PED Overlay

REBIC — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:23:28 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Review Process Changing for Residential Building Permits

REBIC — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:37 +0000

Beginning January 30, the Zoning & Permitting division of Charlotte’s Neighborhood and Business Services began reviewing residential permits for compliance with building height requirements, lot setbacks and other elements of the City’s zoning ordinance. As a result of this change, builders must now complete the City’s Zoning Supplement Application when submitting for a residential building permit.

Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement says the City’s additional review will run concurrently with their own, and is not expected to lengthen the time required for permit approval. The County is also in the process of linking the new forms into its electronic permitting system to further streamline the submission and approval process. REBIC will work with both the county and the City of Charlotte in the coming months to ensure this additional review does not add any time to the permit approval process.

For more information on the new requirement and how it will affect your next building permit application, click HERE. To download the Zoning Supplement Application, click HERE.

City Staff Recommends Against Further Changes to PCCO

REBIC — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:32:22 +0000

In a recent memo to the City Council, Charlotte Engineer Jeb Blackwell recommended against taking any addition action to revise the Post-Construction Controls Ordinance (PCCO) in order to eliminate a Natural Area requirement that conflicts with the Tree Ordinance. Last November, Council rejected a proposal to remove the Natural Area requirement from the PCCO, but asked staff to come back with ideas on how to address the duplicative regulation in a way that would provide the highest possible protection of trees.

In the memo, which you can download HERE, Blackwell said staff would continue to monitor future development plans to determine if any future changes to either the PCCO or Tree Ordinance are warranted. Currently, developers are required to comply with either the PCCO Natural Area requirement OR the Tree Ordinance, whichever is more stringent. Because so few development plans are currently being submitted, staff does not believe it has enough cases on which to base a recommendation for additional changes.

In the coming months, REBIC will continue to work with City staff to evaluate the need for any additional amendments to either the PCCO or Tree Ordinance. We welcome any examples where a conflict between the two ordinances has caused significant delay in plan review, but concur with the staff recommendation against further changes at this time.

Protected: Changes Proposed to Stormwater Fee Credits

REBIC — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:09:00 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Charlotte Land Development Forum Set for February 22

REBIC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:50:32 +0000

Mark your calendars NOW for our Charlotte Land Development Forum, Wednesday, February 22, from 8 – 9:30 a.m. in Room 280 of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The purpose of the Forum will be to foster an open dialogue among the development industry and Charlotte’s Land Development division. We’ll be discussing a range of issues, including, but limited to:

Bonding Requirements
Electronic Plans Management
Streamlining the Plan Approval Process
Charlotte’s Ordinance Alignment Initiative

Space is limited, so make your reservation TODAY by e-mailing Yvonne Case at case@REBIC.com. Bagels and coffee will be provided, thanks to our sponsor, DPR Associates.

License Reciprocity Changes for North and South Carolina

REBIC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:13:28 +0000

As of February 29, North Carolina will be terminating the license reciprocity system it has had with other states. Effective March 1, 2012, an out-of-state licensee (sometimes referred to in rules and regulations as “a foreign broker”) can obtain a North Carolina license by demonstrating that he/she has a license in good standing from their state and by passing the North Carolina specific portion of the real estate exam. Also effective March 1, the North Carolina real estate licensing exam will be comprised of two parts: the national portion of the exam which tests on non-state specific topics common in real estate and a North Carolina specific portion, which covers license law, state statutes and typical practices. Nonresident licensees will to continue to renew their nonresident North Carolina licenses without additional requirements.

South Carolina has informed North Carolina that they will honor fully completed requests for reciprocity until February 28. SC nonresident licensees will receive renewal notices in the spring, renewing as they have in the past without any additional requirements. Effective 3/1/12, any agent in North Carolina wishing to apply for a SC license will need to take the SC portion of the state exam in order to obtain South Carolina nonresident license.

This process is the most common manner in which states are licensing nonresident licensees.

Deadline Approaching for Façade Improvement Grants

REBIC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:03:52 +0000

Was improving the façade of your business or property a New Year’s resolution? The City of Charlotte has a program that can assist you with paying for those improvements you may have been putting off. Its Façade Grant Improvement program assists businesses and property owners with matching funds up to $65,000 for eligible renovations. The next deadline for this program is February 15th.

The program seeks to provide assistance to projects that involve true architectural renovations to the exterior of commercial buildings as well as projects that bring parking, landscaping and signage into conformance with current codes. For example, projects that are adding new windows and storefront entrances; installing decorative lighting and metal canopies; removing asphalt and installing trees and evergreen shrubs, etc., are eligible to apply. Every project is different and applications are considered based on the unique characteristics of each project.

To find out more about this opportunity, please visit: the Facade Grant webpage or contact Chris Hemans at chemans@charlottenc.gov, 704-432-3025.