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AN ORDINANCE 201 0 - 05 - 0 6 - 0 3 7-6

AMENDING CHAPTER 35, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT

CODE, OF THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO,

TEXAS, RELATING TO TREE PRESERVATION AND

ADEQUATE CANOPY COVERAGE

 

 

81st Texas Senate Office Directory  
81st Texas House Office Directory
   
   

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nancy Mcdonald   (512) 320-4151                         

 Commercial Real Estate Industry Holds Legislative Strategy Summit  

(AUSTIN-February 19, 2010) – The Real Estate Councils of Texas, a coalition of the largest urban commercial real estate organizations, met in Austin yesterday to identify and prioritize issues for next year’s 82nd Texas Legislature. The leadership from the six organizations huddled with strategists and legislative analysts to review the interim work of key committees in both the House and Senate.

“While we do not know exactly who will be serving in the Texas Legislature until after the elections, we do know that our issues will not change. During these critical economic times, it is important to stay focused on the fact that the commercial real estate industry must be protected from regulatory measures that could restrain the industry from rebounding or the Texas economy from rebuilding,” said Martha Mangum, executive director of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio and co-chair of the coalition.

Texas’ regulatory climate has allowed the real estate industry to adequately respond to consumer demand keeping real estate values and housing costs well below the national average. The Real Estate Councils of Texas continue to support policies that allow Texas to remain one of the most affordable states to live in and do business.

According to a 2008 report prepared by the consulting firm TXP Inc., designed to gauge the economic impact of the industry, the real estate development sector was responsible for $270.6 billion in total economic activity as well as $3.8 billion in state tax revenue.

“The impact of the development industry on the state’s economy is huge. The numbers tell the story,” said Jon Hockenyos, president of TXP, Inc. “Companies in the development sectors have collectively added tens of thousands of positions since early 2000, in the process paying millions of dollars in wages. The construction segment of the real estate development industry provides an opportunity for those without higher education to earn above average wages, which is increasingly rare in the modern economy”.

Other legislative issues sure to be of importance to the group are transportation, corrections to the margin tax, county land-use regulations, and job creation.

“Texas is one of the leading states in job creation, but we can’t afford to rest on our success. In this economy, it's vital that the state recruit new jobs, expand job creation for our existing employers, and ensure a skilled workforce through education and job training,” said Janice Cartwright, executive director of the Real Estate Council of Austin and co-chair of the coalition.

The Real Estate Councils of Texas, organized in September 2008, is comprised of real estate development associations from Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.  Recognizing a need for statewide representation, the associations work together to monitor and advocate on legislative issues that are important to the industry.  In addition, the Real Estate Councils of Texas serves as an industry resource to provide necessary educational materials to the public and the Texas Legislature

For more information and contact information for the member organizations, visit the following websites.  

bulletThe Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA) www.recaonline.com
bulletThe Real Estate Council (TREC Dallas) www.recouncil.com
bulletGreater Fort Worth Real Estate Council (GFWREC) www.gfwrec.com
bulletThe Houston Real Estate Council (HREC) www.houstonrealestatecouncil.org
bulletHoustonians for Responsible Growth (HRG) www.houstongrowth.com

The Real Estate Council of San Antonio (RECSA) www.recsanantonio.com

Following are issues of importance to the real estate industry on which the Council will focus in the coming months. For more information on any of these, contact Martha Mangum (martham@recsanantonio.com)

2009 Issues 

1) General UDC Revisions as presented through the biennial revision process (this is in addition to those that have already been approved in 2008) – approved by City Council January 15, 2009

 2) Rough Proportionality Ordinance

 3) Military Lighting Overlay District Implementation (Dark Sky Lighting Zoning)

 4) Tree Canopy Ordinance

 5) Tree Removal Rollback Penalty Ordinance

 6) Endangered Species Assessment Ordinance

 7) Sustainability Ordinances

 8) Joint Land Use Task Forces recommendations

 9) 2009 Legislative Session (impact fees, ag exemption, increased county regulatory authority, etc.)

 10) 2009 Building Codes are expected to be adopted late spring/early summer

 11) Street Failures/ Maintenance Task Force

 12) Boards and Commissions, including new Boards created (Ex - Community Development Advisory Committee) which may have a real estate presence

13) Drainage Ordinance Review

 14)  Development Process

            City of SA

            SAWS

            CPS

            Bexar County

 15)    City of SA Elections – May, 2009

16)    Transportation

17)    Bexar Met

18)    Military Transformation Task Force

RECSA Representation on Task Forces

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