IRVINE, CA—From CEQA and greenhouse-gas legislation to building moratoriums and ballot-box zoning measures, the building industry has a full plate of issues to work on, the Building Industry Association of Southern California/Orange County Chapter's director of government affairs Adam Wood tells GlobeSt.com. Wood, who is based in Irvine, CA, was recently hired to the BIA's Orange County chapter. In addition, two executives have been hired in the organization's Riverside chapter: Clint Lorimore, who will serve as director of government affairs, and David Dazlich, who will serve deputy director of government affairs.

We spoke with Wood about his goals in his new role and the legal issues that are most concerning to the building industry today.

GlobeSt.com: What are your goals in your new role with the BIA?

Wood: California is in the midst of a housing crisis. It seems every day there is another article about unaffordable home prices, people forced to leave the state to find housing and other variations on these themes. I was honored to be offered this job as director of government affairs for BIA/OC because it puts me on the front line of combating this trend. My goal in this role with BIA/OC is to fight for sound development policy that restores the promise of Orange County. Only by increasing the supply of housing options do we have a chance at making OC a viable option for the next generation.

GlobeSt.com: What are the legal issues that are most concerning to the building industry now?

Wood: My professional career has taken me in many different directions. I am privileged enough to have worked in Sacramento as a legislative director, and most recently, I came from the wireless industry. With that said, my background in the building industry is predominately shaped by personal experience. I have lived the housing crisis first hand, having struggled to find a home to purchase, and I have seen friends move out of state as a result of high costs.

While I must defer to legal staff on the specifics of legal issues facing the building industry, there are a few broad themes of which everyone must be aware. First and foremost are the policies enacted at the state level and how they shape real-world ability to purchase a home. Programs like CEQA were initially drafted with the best of intentions, but policy distortions have created a situation where development is severely hamstrung. Similarly, greenhouse-gas legislation has had a profound impact on development at a time when new homes are as efficient as they have ever been.

This is all relevant in light of a NAHB study from a year ago that that found approximately 24% of the final price of a single-family home goes to government-regulation costs. At a time where Millennials struggle to achieve the ever-important 20% down payment, we need to focus on streamlining and cost reduction at every possible turn.

At the local level, there are policies like building moratoriums and ballot-box zoning measures that can severely limit housing supply. It is within this realm that I am most excited to work since the need for housing is extreme, as are the benefits of new development. New housing creates opportunity for new residents that create new sales tax revenues for cities. Through smart development policies, cities can thrive well into the future. Without smart development policies, cities can see revenues drop and infrastructure age and risk the pitfalls of becoming a city without a defined future.

GlobeSt.com: Are there any legal issues that are not as crucial to the building industry as they might appear?

Wood: Once a policy issue enters the legal realm, it is hard to shake the “crucial” classification. However, there are a few key points that are of crucial importance but have largely flown “under the radar” of the average citizen.

The first such issue I've come across is by far the most interesting to discuss. It revolves around the idea of Orange County being “built out.” Arguments are made that there is simply no more land in the greater OC region and therefore, there is no future for development. I believe this drastically underestimates the amount of reusable land/urban-infill opportunity we have in the county. The world has changed drastically since the first tract homes were carved into the orange groves, and so too have construction methods. Many cities boast a plethora of parcels that can house creative designs that are complementary to, but distinctly different from, the classic single-family, single-story ranch house. Thus, a robust conversation is needed in Orange County about the new face of housing. I am excited to help communicate a realistic look at where future generations will live and what is needed to embrace vibrant new opportunities across the county.

Another big issue is water policy (as it relates to housing). I have seen many arguments made that no new housing can be allowed because we simply don't have enough water. While this makes for a splashy headline, the facts do not agree. Studies have shown that homes built in California today realize an indoor water savings of more than 29,000 gallons of water annually, compared to those built as recently as 2005. An even more impressive metric shows current construction saves 46,000 gallons per year compared to homes constructed in the 1980s. In short, if we are to be serious about saving water, new construction is not the problem, and perhaps even the solution. Real reform must come to the existing stock of housing if we are to avoid future droughts. Spreading this information to the general population is key to developing sound housing policy for the future.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about development opportunities in Southern California?

Wood: Now is an incredibly exciting time to be working on housing policy in California. Elected leaders are coming to terms with the crushing need for new housing stock, and some of the brightest minds in government and industry are collaborating on creative solutions. The future holds a new vision and approach to where we live. Everyone in the building industry today gets to be part of that new future.

To be a little more specific on that, there must be a renewed focus on entry-level housing. Currently the bar is set just a little too high for first-time buyers, and California is losing out on one of its greatest resources. Finding new solutions that keep the next generation here on California's golden shore is essential to future prosperity. I truly believe this is an achievable goal, but it will not come without some challenges. New housing approaches are necessary, reforms at the state and local levels are necessary, and more than anything, public and private innovation is necessary to keep the California dream thriving.

We spoke with Wood about his goals in his new role and the legal issues that are most concerning to the building industry today.

GlobeSt.com: What are your goals in your new role with the BIA?

GlobeSt.com: What are the legal issues that are most concerning to the building industry now?

GlobeSt.com: Are there any legal issues that are not as crucial to the building industry as they might appear?

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about development opportunities in Southern California?

Instant Insights /

The Building Industry's Most-Pressing Legal Issues

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