COM 0358.000 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~+v a 4' ~u- Harry Kim Christopher J. Yuen Mayor Director +r~•;;~~;'r Brad Kumkawa, ASLA LEED®AP ~l].1t1tt~1 Ql ~~~FIIY Deputy Director PLANNING DEPARTMENT 101 Pauahi Stree[, Sui[e 3 Hilo, Hawaii 967203043 (808) 961-8288 PAX (808) 961-8742 April 20, 2007 Honorable Pete Hoffmann=;~ Chair and Presiding Officer , and Members of the County Council _ = - COUNTY COUNCIL 333 Kilauea Avenue, Second Floor Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Chair Hoffinann and Members of the County Council: SUBJECT: PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 11 -HAWAII COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY We would like to propose an amendment to Chapter 11, the Hawaii County affordable housing policy that will greatly strengthen it by applying its coverage to all new residential developments, except those that have previously satisfied their affordable housing requirements. A proposed ordinance is attached to this letter. Until now, affordable housing requirements have only been applied to developments which had an affordable housing condition placed on them at the time of rezoning or state land use reclassification. These conditions did not become common until the 1980's. Much development on the island occurs on sites that were zoned earlier without affordable housing conditions. For example, most of the Waikoloa Village area was zoned RS-10 around 1970, including about 1600 acres of land that has not yet been developed. The basic idea behind Hawaii County's affordable housing policy is simple: that new housing projects should make room for at least some people of average income. This is a common policy on the Mainland, usually called "inclusionary zoning", and it is even more essential on an island. We must accommodate housing for the working population on the island. We cannot have it commute in from another jurisdiction. Because we have Comm. No. 3~ Ref. To:,~ 3~ Ref. Dafe Hawaii County is an Equal Opponuniry Provider and Employer.