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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON PLANNING <br /> DATE: January 5, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 550/Bill No. 101 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 9:00 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 101, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 101, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth via Communication 550, dated November 18, <br /> 2021, amends the State Land Use Boundaries Maps for the County Of Hawaii by changing the <br /> District Classification from Agricultural to Urban District at Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, <br /> covered by Tax Map Key: 2-4-001:168. The area is approximately 9.091 acres. The applicant is <br /> Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC). <br /> The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this <br /> amendment which would provide 90-units of affordable housing and other related services in <br /> South Hilo. The property is located west of the Mohouli and Komohana Street intersection in <br /> Waiakea. <br /> Jeremy McComber, Chief of Operations for HIDCD, was present via Zoom. He explained that <br /> this amendment is necessary for HICDC to move forward on its project of 90 affordable housing <br /> units designed as a"pocket neighborhood." He shared that the project would integrate senior <br /> housing with low-income housing, and that the design is intentional to encourage socializing and <br /> recreation in the lots, fostering a tight-knit community. <br /> Committee Member Aaron Chung asked Mr. Darrow what happens with the project after <br /> Bill No. 101 is passed. Mr. Darrow responded that HICDC currently has a 201H application with <br /> the Office of Housing & Community Development regarding this project, and so should Bill 101 <br /> and the 201H be approved by the full Council, HICDC can begin construction. Committee <br /> Member Chung brought up concerns from constituents around unintended consequences of <br /> low-income housing but voiced his support for the project and HICDC saying they are a great <br /> company that's worked closely with him and the neighbors to address these concerns. <br /> Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Mr. McComber how much HICDC's lease <br /> for the land was, to which he responded that it was $100 a year in order to keep the units <br /> affordable. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder noted that it was interesting that HICDC was slated to <br /> build 90 units when they committed to building 200. <br /> PC Report No.: 41 <br />