The quarterly meeting of the RLUAC was held May 21. Presentations were given by Greg Bean (Director of Fort Bragg’s Directorate of Public Works) regarding Fort Bragg’s Annual Construction Update and Robert Farrell (Hoke County Planning Director) regarding “Issues Impacting New Housing Construction Demand in the Region.” Talking points are below.
Background on RLUAC – The Regional Land Use Advisory Commission (RLUAC) is a non-profit 501(C)3 membership based organization located in the Sandhills of North Carolina consisting of twenty units of local government: eight counties and twelve municipalities. The twenty year old organization was the first regional group established in the country to coordinate land use decisions between the military and the local governments. Today, the primary mission of RLUAC is to balance the following three key objectives through facilitating regional planning and development reviews, communication and coordination: 1)Protect the Civilian Population from negative military impacts; 2)Protect the Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem from destruction;and 3) Protect the Military Training Mission from incompatible development
Talking Points Re: Fort Bragg Construction
Greg Bean’s power point – http://www.rluac.com/
- Construction on the base is the largest “boom” since WWII
- In the past 30 years, the base has added 52.2 million dollars in construction projects
- Projects to date total over 600 million
- Major projects (Old Division Area, new Corps Command & Control Facility, new elementary school in Linden Oaks, JFK Warfare Center, USASOC, and Patriot’s Point)
Question- There was no mention of the proposed new entertainment complex with an IMAX theater. Is it under construction?
Answer – No, still in the planning process and there has been no funding for the project at this time
Question – What is your projection on housing on the base?
Answer – There is no NEW growth (construction) but the “Housing Market Analysis” will come out this summer
Talking Points Re: New Housing Construction in the Region
Robert Farell’s power point – RLUAC Presentation
Permit numbers (stick built single family dwelling) from 2010 – 2014
County 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cumberland 898 902 878 926 764
Hoke 569 401 378 347 211
Harnett 877 781 791 762 622
Fort Bragg Population: (averages)
2010- 145,000
2012/13 – 153,000
2015 – 147,000
2018 – 143,000
Impacts to Development:
- There are numerous factors which impact development – land, labor, materials, costs, risk, fees
- Labor costs have risen from $22.51 per hour in April 2012 to $25.13 in December 2014
- Residential materials has risen 45% over the past decade
- Average price of a new home in the region has dropped from $155 in 2013 to $140 in 2015
- With anticipated reductions in the population at Fort Bragg, surrounding counties should begin considering additional options for growth as well as potential alternative revenue streams
Next RLUAC Meeting:
August 20, 215 – Roger Vickers (Fort Bragg’s Army Stationing and Installation Plan Manager) will give an update on Fort Bragg’s population
