Proposed Legislation to Protect Environment AND Affordable Florida Home Loans

Affordable Florida home loans.

That’s what all potential buyers in the Sunshine State are focused on. Thanks to a bill introduced by Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.), improvements to the Environmental Protection Agency storm water permit and enforcement policies could actually results in more reasonable home ownership. This will, hopefully, boost consumer confidence in Florida real estate.

“Current storm water permitting requirements and regulations are duplicative and burdensome, adding anywhere from $1,400 to $4,500 to the cost of every lot,” said NAHB President David Pressly, a home builder from Statesville, N.C. “The legislation takes into account the differences between residential construction activity and other industries.

By taking a more balanced and reasonable approach to storm water management and enforcement, the measure would streamline the permit process, improve compliance and enhance environmental protection.”

H.R. 5558, the “Stormwater Enforcement and Permitting Act,” contains a number of provisions that would protect the environment without needlessly driving up housing costs. Sounds like a winning combination to us!

Here’s what the bill would include:

- A program to increase awareness among residential construction site operators of their regulatory requirements when working on new homes.

- A fair and reasonable process by which the Environmental Protection Agency can seek information from residential construction site operators.

- A one-time chance for builders to correct permit deficiencies that don’t cause environmental harm

- Remove duplicative permit obligations where residential construction site operators discharge into municipal storm sewer systems that are already permitted and regulated.

As Florida home loan affordability remains a state issue - and others areas of the country experience a similar problem - there’s a powerful need for these requirements, Pressly said. A more consistent and sensible regulatory approach would better protect America’s rivers and streams without unduly increasing Florida housing prices.