HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEA 1001 Public Input 3I
July 27, 2026
Indiana Builders Association
Mr. Tim Staub, Zoning Specialist
City of South Bend Department of Community Investment
215 South Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Suite 500
South Bend, IN 46601
Dear Mr. Staub:
Filed in Clerk's Office
Jul 27, 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend I\
The Indiana Builders Association (IBA) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments for the City of South
Bend's public hearing on increasing housing development.
The IBA is a statewide trade association that represents approximately 3,000 home builders, remodelers, light
commercial contractors, and material suppliers through a network of local affiliates across the state, including the
HBA of St. Joseph Valley.
As an advocate for housing affordability, the IBA is a strong proponent of House Enrolled Act 1001- comprehensive
legislation enacted by the Indiana General Assembly this year to expand Indiana's housing supply and drive down
the costs of homeownership by rolling back costly regulatory barriers to housing development.
Government regulations at all levels add an average of 26.4% to the price of a new single-family home. These costs
jumped 40% in five years, driven by building code changes, permit fees, and land development rules.
We want to recognize and thank elected officials and staff in the City of South Bend for your work in addressing
numerous housing challenges that directly impact housing supply and affordability, including
• Simplifying zoning to make infill housing easier to build and eliminating strict minimum parking rules,
• Providing pre -approved plans to lower design costs and speed up review time, and
• Utilizing federal grants, tax credits, tax incremental financing (TIF), and public -private partnerships to build
more housing.
Revisiting your unified development ordinance in a public hearing can identify additional regulatory barriers that
impede housing development and help the City of South Bend lower the cost of housing, attract new workers,
boost tax revenue for city services, and ensure more Hoosiers have a place to call home.
Sincerely,
,
Rick Wajda, CEO
Indiana Builders Association
Indiana Builders Association
101 W Ohio Street, Suite 710, Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-917-1100 I www.Buildlndiana.orq I Info4BuildIndiana.orq