Homebuilders Association tells Clay County: 'Let Builders Build' — commissioners debate energy codes, affordability and comprehensive plan

Jordan Webster, director of community relations for the Homebuilders Association of Greater Kansas City, urged the Clay County Commission on Thursday to back regional efforts to remove regulatory barriers that she said are blocking housing construction and worsening affordability.

Webster presented permit data from 69 jurisdictions across the Kansas City metro, saying the association counted 4,388 single‑family permits in 2025 and that the region faces a shortage of roughly 64,000 housing units as of December 2025. "We support 20,000 jobs and contribute more than $1.8 billion in short‑ and long‑term economic growth," Webster said, and urged collaboration between municipalities and builders to increase housing supply.

The presentation emphasized fragmented rules across Kansas and Missouri — "69 different rule books," Webster said — and singled out Kansas City’s adoption of an ‘‘unamended’’ 2021 International Energy Conservation Code as an example of a policy she said reduced single‑family permits. Webster described the association’s "Let Builders Build" campaign and its tactics, including advertising, billboards and a landing page, and said it has produced outreach that prompted some local governments to reconsider their code or fee schedules.

Commissioners asked detailed questions. Commissioner Wagner pressed Webster on what she meant by "stringent" energy policy and the specific cost impacts she attributed to code changes — Webster cited cost estimates in the range of $10,000 to $30,000 per home and noted that Kansas City’s code resulted in a substantially lower permitting rate compared with other parts of the metro. Commissioner Lawson asked how the association defines "affordable," and Webster replied that affordability frequently means households paying 30% or more of income for housing costs; she also noted median home prices in Kansas City, Missouri, around $450,000.

Several commissioners said they support actions to reduce unnecessary barriers while also protecting Clay County’s comprehensive plan. Commissioner Carpenter expressed openness to a county resolution supporting housing production but said the commission should avoid making the language adversarial to other local governments. Commissioner Johnson said he supports removing needless regulations but wants to ensure the county preserves its rural/town balance.

Members of the public who spoke responding to the presentation offered mixed views. Linda Hetszel asked the commission not to spend county funds to support an industry ad campaign and urged a focus on permitting reforms and careful cost‑benefit analysis of any energy‑code changes. Environmental consultant Marggo Farnsworth told commissioners to respect the county’s comprehensive plan and recommended green‑infrastructure incentives, citing an economist’s analysis that certain efficiency investments can pay back in roughly four years while saving water and energy.

The commission did not vote on policy at the meeting; several commissioners asked staff and the presenter for follow‑up materials, and one commissioner said he would like the item returned on a future agenda with more information and proposed language for a local resolution.

What’s next: Webster offered to provide further materials on the energy‑code analysis, impact fees and material‑supply pipelines. Commissioners signaled interest in studying changes to local permitting, fee schedules and regulatory language before deciding on any formal county action.