In the mostly rural community of Franklin, Va., there’s a lot of room for growth. Making sure that growth is done in a smart way to benefit homeowners is what the Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association is aiming to do, with help from a National Association of REALTORS® Level 2 Smart Growth grant.
“Our jurisdiction is extremely diverse,” CEO Dawn Kennedy, RCE, CAE, says, “with areas that have no broadband internet, to an area that is rapidly growing as an industrial center.”
Franklin’s farmland is being eyed by hungry developers. The association saw an opportunity to step in and help educate city leaders, business leaders and residents on the benefits of working together to create smart solutions for everyone, including rural communities, says Anastasia Mason, E-PRO, C2EX, senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs. Two years ago, HRRA successfully advocated for smaller buildable lots and density to help address the housing inventory shortage. The association ultimately helped defeat a zoning regulation that would have required 3-acre lots, which would have stymied housing availability for aspiring homeowners.
While the South Hampton Roads Smart Growth initiative is only a year old, it has already gained important traction. In May, HRRA and the mayor of Franklin held a town hall meeting where NAR’s Hugh Morris, manager of community development and growth, led a discussion on the Smart Growth principles.
A second but equally important goal is for local leaders to see HRRA as the resource for anything real estate– related. “We’ve made significant progress,” Mason says, adding that members are playing key roles in civic leagues, local planning commissions and housing task forces and are strengthening relationships with key stakeholders.
The biggest benefit? “This grant has the ability to open doors for agents who are REALTORS® within the community and create a firm foundation for smart growth principles,” Mason says. “It also builds trust, which will enable our members to be the thought leaders for the future of housing and [the drive] to realize the American dream of homeownership for anyone who wants it.”
