On behalf of the Home Builders Association of Virginia, which represents single-family and multi-family builders, land developers, and the numerous trades which support the residential land development and construction industry, I am writing to convey the industry’s opposition to deregulating landscape architects in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Over the last several years that this issue has been reviewed by the General Assembly and state entities, it has become apparent that there are numerous misconceptions about the roles, responsibilities, and scope of work of the landscape architect profession. These misconceptions have overshadowed the fact that landscape architects provide critical, highly technical services for Virginia’s builders and developers - services which directly impact the public health, safety, and welfare of the general public.

Residential land development and construction projects are shaped by countless ordinances, regulations, procedures, and policies instituted at all levels of government. Approval of these projects are contingent upon strict compliance to a patchwork of local ordinances and state and federal laws, the complexity of which requires individuals with a comprehensive and highly technical understanding of issues related to stormwater management regulations, erosion and sediment control measures, flood resiliency, building codes, land development, transportation infrastructure, and other fields.  By virtue of their educational training, examination requirements and expertise, landscape architects are uniquely qualified to navigate the complex array of regulations, laws, and ordinances to ensure:

• Proper design of retaining walls, grading and drainage, and site structures to protect users of public and private property
• Resilient design within coastal areas to mitigate the impact of sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding
• Appropriate design of stormwater management systems and erosion control measures to promote efficient use of water resources and reduce the potential for costly damage associated with flooding, reduce maintenance cost of stormwater manage facilities, and protect natural systems
• Smart design of public streets and corridors, pedestrian pathways, parks, recreation facilities, plazas, and terraces in the public realm

Licensure of the landscape architects ensures that untrained individuals are not engaging in professional practices that would substantially impact the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. Relatedly, the licensure requirements provide the development and construction industry a high degree of certainty that the individuals and firms they retain to provide these services possess the technical expertise required to comply with the regulations, laws, and ordinances imposed by all levels of government. Additionally, without licensure, landscape architects would likely be prohibited from leading multidisciplinary teams on development projects, where they coordinate teams of engineers, architects, and land surveyors – a practice frequently utilized to enhance efficiencies and communication during the complex development process.  The current licensure requirements for landscape architects should be maintained.