STATEMENT OF POLICY - LITTLE ROCK REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
HOUSING ISSUES
Home ownership is vitally important to the American way of life. It benefits society as well as the communities in which home-owners reside. We, as REALTORS®, need to strive to remove any obstacles preventing Americans from owning their own homes.
ABSENTEE LANDLORD
REALTORS® support a public policy that allows city government to maintain the quality of rental property in our municipality. This includes an ordinance that will allow city officials to place out-of-area landlords as well as local landlords on notice of any deficiencies noted in their properties located in Little Rock.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
REALTORS® support a fair and equitable method of inspection of rental properties to insure that the quality and safety of the real estate is maintained. We support methods of compliance to these inspections that are reasonable to all parties and at the same time enhance the response time to the inspection results.
AFFORDABILITY
We encourage government's efforts to provide a comprehensive housing policy. The Little Rock REALTORS® Association supports programs that provide low cost housing, and assist first-time home-buyers.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING
In 1980 the designation of "mobile home" was changed to "manufactured home". A "manufactured home" is built in conformity with the provisions of the Federal HUD Code which preempts local building codes. "Mobile homes" are those built prior to the adoption of the HUD Code. Today the "manufactured housing" designation includes both mobile homes and modular homes.
The LRRA supports parity in the regulation of manufactured housing and traditional forms of site built housing.
The LRRA supports the use of manufactured homes where residential uses are permitted when consistent with City plans, ordinances, design requirements, local building codes, deed restrictions and bills of assurance.
STATEMENT OF POLICY - LITTLE ROCK REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
ENVIRONMENT
Quality of life is one of the most important issues facing our communities today. REALTORS® believe that the quality of life must be enhanced by balancing the needs for Environmental conservation, economic progress, and private property rights. To ensure continued conservation, we have identified the following specific issues concerning our environment.
LEAD CONTAMINATION
In an effort to limit exposure of humans, especially children, to lead-based paint hazard we support current efforts of the federal government to identify sources of lead poisoning through disclosure of lead-based paint and lease transactions involving pre-1978 constructed properties. We oppose, however, the mandatory testing for lead-based paint tied to the transaction process. We strongly support continued scientific research connecting lead-based paint poisoning and public health hazards.
FLOOD CONTROL
We recognize that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) helps subsidize the cost of flood insurance. Inaccurate maps have placed properties within a flood zone when they should have been outside of the zone, and vice versa. Affordable flood insurance for owners who live in a flood zone is critical to the economic growth and development of our community.
GROWTH
We support growth measures that provide a variety of housing and commercial opportunities and choices. We believe that excessive growth management regulation can negatively affect property rights, distort real estate markets, and threaten affordable homeownership. The quality of life within our community depends upon a balanced plan for the protection of private property rights along with the protection of the environment, the preservation of open space, and the alleviation of traffic congestion and school overcrowding.
RECYCLING
We support increased awareness programs for city wide recycling and curbside pick-up. We can have growth and solve litter, dumping, and recycling problems through the use of practical programs. We believe in keeping our community in-line with the "Natural State" motto.
STATEMENT OF POLICY - LITTLE ROCK REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
EDUCATION
The Little Rock REALTORS® Association believes that one of the most important if not the most important consideration a prospective family for our city makes is a desire for high quality schools for their children. We believe this means high quality public and private schools.
We believe education decisions for public schools should be made at the local level by school boards and parents, however, we also believe that voluntary consolidation of school districts should be encouraged to gain maximum educational benefit for limited education dollars.
We believe in a positive environment for both public and private school systems secure in the knowledge that choice is important and that competition can lead to both public and private school systems offering a better product thus improving the quality of schools at all levels.
STATEMENT OF POLICY - LITTLE ROCK REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
The Little Rock REALTORS® Association acknowledges that, wherever laws are enacted, they are implemented at the local level. We believe that local government should be fiscally responsible and include input from local citizens. We encourage our members to become involved in the local governmental process, including seeking elected or appointed offices, when applicable, and to devote the required time and energy necessary to help benefit our community.
The Little Rock REALTORS® Association will continue to promote a Legislative Affairs Committee to monitor the activity of the local government and act as a unified voice in support or opposition of local issues.
TAXATION
The Little Rock REALTORS® Association favors a tax structure which maintains and encourages competitive, healthy growth. We believe real estate taxes should be primarily to pay for schools and government services that promote the private ownership of real estate. We support the Arkansas REALTORS® Association position regarding reduction of the real property tax through the use of a homestead exemption. We are
opposed to replacing the real property tax with a state sales tax.
IMPACT FEES
We have long opposed impact fees as a method of funding the cost of system improvements to serve development. We believe that new growth should not be discouraged or penalized.
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
We recognize the need for creative financing alternatives to help develop new projects in blighted areas, repair roads and infrastructure, assist in encouraging private investment and creating jobs. We support an equitable solution for formation of certain designated tax improvement districts to achieve this stated purpose.
STATEMENT OF POLICY - LITTLE ROCK REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
PARKS
REALTORS® support the quality of life provided for community through a well-planned and maintained park system. A well thought out and executed plan for parks spread throughout a community for use by the entire community provides benefits beyond measure. We support the initiation of new parks, keeping in mind the consideration of cost and practicality, as well as rights of property owners.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Little Rock REALTORS® Association acknowledges that wherever communities exist, there is an infrastructure to provide the backbone for transportation of goods and services throughout the community. We acknowledge local government's responsibility to maintain control of the quality of services provided as well as maintenance and upkeep for the structures. We support the planning required to assure that the public infrastructure for utilities and roads is designed in such a fashion that it is capable of handling the future expansion of our community.
STATEMENT OF POLICY - LITTLE ROCK REALTORS® ASSOCIATION
PLANNING AND ZONING
REALTORS® understand that cooperation between private property owners and local governments is necessary to determine the best use of land.
Efforts to protect aquifers, natural areas, historic properties and open spaces could have a positive impact on the environment in a community.
We encourage quality development in all areas of the city.
We support development incentives to encourage new industrial, commercial, and residential projects. We further support an equitable allocation of the incentives offered to the various types of projects.
We believe, however, that every individual has the right to acquire real property with confidence and the certainty that its value will not be unduly diminished by governmental action without just compensation or consent by the owner.
We believe the economic viability is the primary impetus for growth in a community. Planning and zoning policy should originate with and be advocated by the people and their elected officials at the local level. Public staff should serve all of the people.
LANDSCAPING
We support the implementation of reasonable landscaping requirements to enhance new developments within the city. Developers and property owner rights should also be taken into consideration.
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
We support and encourage involvement by all citizens in the policy making process. We further believe that private property owner input should have equal consideration.
2008 OFFICERS
President
Paulette Richie
Vice President
President Elect
Nick McDaniel
Secretary
Andrew Webre
Treasurer
Tommy Mathieu
Directors Drew Basham
Clyde Butler
Shannon Treece
Karl Freeman
Johnny McKay
Victor Wynn
Becky Farrow
Linda Green
Todd Rice
Rebecca Cate
Bob Gram
Anika Dixon
Charlene Schulte
(ex-officio)
CARMLS Directors Karl Freeman
Danny Been
Mike MacKinder
Johnny McKay
CARMLS User Group Representatives
Gina Harmon
Jeff Juel
Dana Whitney