COM 0278.000 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The proposed systems serve more than 5 bedrooms and more than two dwellings; • The proposed systems serving the dwelling units utilize absorption beds based upon a flow of 170 gallons per day. 3. The proposed equipment and operating conditions cannot be altered to bring the facility into compliance with the environmental rules fo the state within a reasonable amount of time for the following reason: • The proposed equipment is intended to provide affordable housing for elderly residents on the island of Hawaii. The construction of the development is subsidized by the United States Department of Agriculb_~re (USDAI, Rural Development Program. The additional cost of providing a sewage treatment plant for the facility would increase the construction cost significantly and could exceed the funds available from USDA for the project. Likewise, constructing septic tank systems segmented into 1000 gallon increments would also increase the cost of the proposed wastewater system by a significant amount thus having a similar adverse impact on the availability of sufficient funds for project construction. 4. The granting of this variance is in the public interest as defined in the Hawaii Revised Statues, section 342.D-6(c) in that it provides affordable housing for low income elderly residents of Hawaii Island. The residents of this facility will come from income brackets that would not allow them to construct and own homes on their own. These residents could become homeless or need help from State (or County) agencies for housing as an alternative to the construction of the proposed facility. 5. The granting of this variance will not substantially endanger human health of safety. The proposed wastewater systems will collect, treat, and dispose of the domestic wastewater in such a manner that no health of safety concerns are created. The Kailua-Kona area in general and the project site specifically has a sufficiently permeable substructure and it is anticipated that the septic tanks systems will perform well. No sources of potable drinking water are within 1000 feet from the proposed septic tank systems and no impacts to existing or future drinking water sources are anticipated. The proposed septic systems are located at sufficient elevation (approximately 165 feet above mean sea level) and sufficient horizontal distance (approximately % mile) to minimize their potential to contamination of shoreline waters. 6. Compliance with the rules or standards from which the variance is sought would produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public. The residents of the proposed elderly housing project are essentially economically depressed of financially disadvantaged . Couple with unprecedented increases in housing costs without assistance from other State or County agencies. Requiring compliance to the subject rules addressed by this variance request will not provide much greater benefits to the environment of the public than the proposed septic tank systems would provide. 7. The time period requested for this wastewater variance is five years. This time period is necessary to allow for the construction and ongoing occupation and operation of the proposed affordable elderly housing facility. A plot plan was included as Attachment F-1. To view the full application with plot plan, please call or write to the Wastewater Branch, 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 309, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-4920, telephone (808)586-4294 or fax (808)586-4300 to obtain a copy or facsimile. DOH will consider all written comments received within thirty days of this notice. If warranted, DOH may hold a public hearing on the variance application, after a separate thirty-day public notice. The final decision will be made on the basis of the application, related documents, written comments and the public hearing, if any. CHIYOME L. FUKINO, M.D. Director of Health