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	<title>Home Builders Association of Massachusetts &#187; Featured</title>
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		<title>Massachusetts 2011 Building Permit Activity at Historic Low</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1953</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1953#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:53:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[According to recent Census Bureau estimates, building permits were issued for a total of 6,387 units in Massachusetts in the first 11 months of 2011, meaning the annual total is likely to be the lowest or second lowest recorded in the 52 years that the Bureau has been publishing this data (started in 1960).  Currently, [...]]]></description>
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		<title>BBRS Publishes Official Interpretation on Smoke Alarm Requirements in Existing Buildings</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1946</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1946#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:49:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[OFFICIAL INTERPRETATION No. 2012-001
 DATE :           January 10, 2012
 SUBJECT:    Smoke, Heat, Carbon Monoxide Detection and Alarm Systems
At a regular meeting of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards held on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, the Board approved the following interpretation of the application of 780 CMR Appendix J, Section AJ102.3 of the Eighth Edition of the [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Veteran Housing Activist Named Undersecretary</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1928</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1928#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:26:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[AARON GORNSTEIN SELECTED AS UNDERSECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (12-22-11)
Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development
CONTACT: Matt Kitsos (HED) – 617-788-3623
BOSTON – December 22, 2011 – Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki today announced the selection of Aaron Gornstein as the new Undersecretary of the Department of Housing and [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Home Builders Provide Strong Showing at BBRS Hearing</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1915</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1915#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:02:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Approximately 30 members from HBAM attended the BBRS hearing on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 in opposition to the Stretch Sprinkler Code proposal.  In addition to formal written testimony, the following speakers provided detailed concerns and objections: Michael McDowell (HBAM- President Elect), Steve Dixon (BAGB), Judith Jenkins (BAGB), Liz Kovach (HBRACC), Larry Kady (NEBA), Scott Colwell [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Post Hearing Press Release: New home fire sprinklers: an expensive solution in search of a problem</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1903</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1903#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:49:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[For Immediate Release                                                                                   Contact: Doug Pizzi
December 13, 2011                                                               508-251-2599 (office) or  508-314-7988 (cell)
BOSTON – The Home Builders of Massachusetts (HBAM) today called on state building regulatory officials to reject a special interest driven attempt to mandate installation of fire suppression sprinklers in all new one and two-family homes, which will do nothing for fire safety while driving [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Permit Extension Act Survey</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1889</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1889#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:28:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Permit Extension Act Passes One-Year Anniversary
HBAM surveying members on benefits of the law

            Governor Patrick signed the Permit Extension Act into law on August 5, 2010, thereby automatically extending for two years most local, regional, and state land use permits. Its passage was a landmark achievement for the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts.

            The Permit [...]]]></description>
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		<title>MassDEP Commissioner Kevin Kimmell has released a Draft Action Plan for Regulatory Reform</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1805</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1805#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:46:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The following Press Release was issued by the Commissioner’s office on October 24, 2011:

This effort is first and foremost an attempt to strategically cope with the budget cuts MassDEP has suffered in recent years. Since 2002, MassDEP&#8217;s budget has been significantly reduced, and staffing has been cut commensurately, from 1200 full time equivalents to approximately [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Attorney General Does Not Certify New Initiative Petition to Amend Comprehensive Permit Statute</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1772</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1772#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:19:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[On September 7th, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced her decision not to certify a new initiative petition to substantially amend the Comprehensive Permit Law. If put before the voters and passed, the petition would have reduced the Ch. 40B affordable housing safe harbor of each municipality from 10 percent to 3 percent of its housing stock, [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Sustainable Neighborhood Road Design</title>
		<link>http://hbama.com/archives/1656</link>
		<comments>http://hbama.com/archives/1656#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:03:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>DSchaeffer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Sustainable Neighborhood Road Design &#8211;A Guidebook for Massachusetts Cities and Towns
July 29, 2011

The American Planning Association—Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) and the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts (HBAM) jointly announce publication of Sustainable Neighborhood Road Design—A Guidebook for Massachusetts Cities and Towns, May, 2011.  “The Guidebook,” stated Secretary Bialecki, of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic [...]]]></description>
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