InfoHive – Eminent Domain

What is happening? Researchers at Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University say 15 housing markets are overvalued by at least 50%. Boise, Idaho — 72.6%
Austin, Texas —  67.70%
Ogden, Utah — 64.73%
Las Vegas —  61.48%
Atlanta — 58.01%
Phoenix — 57.94%
Provo, Utah — 57.02%
Fort Myers, Florida — 56.26%
Spokane, Washington — 56.25%
Charlotte —  55.25%
Lakeland, Florida — 53.22%
Tampa — 52.41%
Raleigh, North Carolina — 51.70%
Detroit — 51.16%

Why is this important? Increasing interest rates and improved construction policies for affordable housing are said to ease the issue.

How will this be important? The issue will be whether policies change that impact the values or whether the market maintains- there was a time when the Bay Area in California was thought to have overvalued homes and those have held.

Route Fifty | 15 US Cities Have Housing Markets Overvalued by More Than 50%

What is happening? Neighbors in Geneva, Switzerland get together and plan their edible gardens so that they can trade

Why is this important? Each house has a vegetable garden and fruit trees.

How will this be important? Diverse vegetation benefits the flora, fauna, air quality.

@sunnythefarmer

What is happening? Community Land Trusts are “mostly nonprofit organizations that operate within a specific neighborhood facing development pressure.”

Why is this important? When a community land trust owns the land it protects the land from being scooped up by developers and makes home purchasing more accessible.

How will this be important? In 2020, California set aside $500 Million to help community land trusts to buy houses in foreclosure sales and prevent developers from buying mass blocks of foreclosed properties at once. Los Angeles County has funded land trusts with $14 million.

And, in Texas, a 2021 bill assesses property taxes based on the affordability restrictions land trusts operate under, limiting their property tax obligations.

Route Fifty | Cities Support Community Land Trusts to Protect Affordable Housing

What is happening? Pennsylvania is considering a grant program for home owners and small landlords for property repairs that promote energy efficiency. SB 1135 ( 2022 | PA)

Why is this important? By addressing home repairs for energy efficiency, the state would lower energy usage (good for climate change advocates) and make efficient housing more affordable.

How will this be important? The legislation has bipartisan support- an appealing prospect in many state legislatures.

Route Fifty | The Lawmaker Pushing for a State Fund to Help Pay for Home Repairs

What is happening? In 2018 Minneapolis’ single family zoning ban turned the clock to pre-zoning where duplexes and triplexes are nearly indistinguishable from their single family home neighbors.

Why is this important? This helped address housing shortages, but permitting for these multi family units are not at the numbers some supporters would like.

How will this be important? Tracking the growth of multifamily development will track the housing market, but few think the zoning changes will address the racial disparities still at play.

Governing | How Important Was the Single-Family Zoning Ban in Minneapolis?

What is happening? Louisiana is considering repealing license requirements for some construction skilled labor when the homeowner works without a general contractor and has direct contact with the subcontractor. Supporters include The Louisiana Home Builders Association and the Louisiana Realtors Association

Why is this important? The exception to licensing would apply to “a specialty classification license to work directly for a homeowner rather than for a general contractor on projects that exceed $7,500. The licenses include pile driving, foundation work, framing, roofing and masonry/stucco. “

How will this be important? Let’s watch other jurisdictions follow suit.

Greater Baton Rouge Business Report | Legislature considers repealing some license requirements for housing subcontractors

What is happening? In Southern California some home owners are being incentivized to replace their grass. Xeriscaping chic. Turf. It’s 2022 there are options.

Why is this important? Drought it’s in a lot of headlines right now, including in Texas.

How will this be important? Some say drought will be an on-going issue, and perhaps that makes lawns an on-going issue.

L A Times | Did you tear out your lawn and replace it with drought-tolerant plants?

What is happening? The digital age has arrived for property appraisers. Welcome to the year 2022 from 1985. Johnson County, Missouri is using LIDAR, Google Maps, and digital photos to improve and streamline their appraisal process.

Why is this important? The County estimates going digital will save $2 million.

How will this be important? Every time an appraiser goes into the field it collects data digitally to be used in the future.

Route Fifty | Drive-by Property Appraisals Streamline Data Collection

What’s happening? Meet the  The Rethinking Revenue initiative, a project with national planning association and municipal association. They say data supports changing land use regulations to allow for more municipal revenue.

Why is this important? Recommendations are to move away from traditional development practices, provide decision makers maps with revenue per acre, build up, and “Create regulation incentives that boost revenue-positive land uses.”

How will this be important? Recommend removing subsidies for unsustainable building practices.

Route Fifty | How Rethinking Land Use Can Boost Local Government Revenue

What is happening? Missouri Legislature for several sessions has been passing a bill to give county commissioners veto power of transmission lines. It stems from the Grain Belt line which will move renewable power through Missouri but will not service the state nor will the renewable power come from within Missouri.

Why is this important? This year a compromise has been reached. It includes:

• If the company uses eminent domain, compensate landowners 150% of the fair market value for easements on their land.
• Construction must begin within 7 years of getting easements;
• Requires that court-appointed commissions, which determine the fair market value of a farmer’s land during eminent domain proceedings, include a farmer who has lived in the area for at least a decade.’

How will this be important? Look to that compensation standard of 150% of fair market value to be on repeat in bill drafts everywhere.

St. Louis Public Radio | Missouri Senate approves eminent domain reform that wouldn’t kill Grain Belt Express