COM 0176.121 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

JUN 28 2007 6:57PM ROTH KIMURR LLP 808 324 6078 p.2 Juoe 26, 2007 County of Hawaii - Bitl SL Page 2 of 2 Mary qualified professionals have submitted over 30 pages of commentary in regazds to Bi115] to aid in your review of the Bill and we have participated in the ad hoc committee in this regard. We have reviewed Bi1151 Proposed Draft #5, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 27 Flood Control, and still see great problems with the added language that goes beyond NFIP compliance. We are particulazly opposed to the revised definition: "Floodplain or flood-prone area" means any land azea susceptible to being inundated by water (which includes the entire Isla~td of Hawaii) from any source...".2 Properties that have ntinirnal threat of flooding will now be subject to this chapter of the Code. For example due to the revised defmition, there will be no stru~:tural fill allowed anywhere on the entire Lsland of Hawaii3. We are also opposed to: "Require that all new subdivisions and developments, regardless of the Flood Zone, provide for stornwater nmoff detention to at least the 100-year-storm event on that property or pazcel, for later release at a restricted rate after the storm subsides"". This will result in a dam-like structure at tte bottom of every parcel on the entire Island of Hawaii to collect water for later release. A typi:al drywell or catchbasin will not work to detain stormwater as these drainage systems percolate water into the ground immediately. To trigger this requirement, understand that the deft rition of developments is basically any man made change to real estate. These aze only two exatnples of many that begin to illustrate the problems with Bi1151 Proposed Drafr #S. We are greatly concerned with the September 2007 deadline to have Chapter 27 amended so that the County is compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program. We have four recetnrrtendations. First, the Council needs to bring forth a revised bill that is stripped of all mandates that have not been properly analyzed and recommended by licensed professionals so that the County can be in compliance with NFIP. Second, identify instances where problem flooding has occurred. Third, hire qualified consultants to analyze why flooding occurred in those instances and present their findings to the public. Fourth, move forward with legislation anrLor capital improvement projects that aze aimed directly at the true problems. We thank you for the opportunity to be a member of the ad hoc committee and welcome any dialogue with you as we continue to work together to improve Bill 51. Sincerely, American Institute of Architects, Hawaii Island Section, Executive Committee Robert Nespor, AIA President Robin Inaba, AIA Vice-President Johu Dinmore, AIA Treasurer Karl Kimura, AIA Secretary ~ ~ Cletnson I.arrt, AIA Past-President John Parazette, AIA Past-Treasurer Terrance Cisco, AIA Director Peter Vincent, AIA President -AIA Honolulu Terry Dunlap, AIA Bill 51 ad hoc committee member Richazd Myers, AIA Chair, Building Science and Performance Committee of AIA Honolulu CC' Wes[ Hawaii Today, Hawaii Tribune Herald, Honolulu Advertiser, Ma}'or Harry Kim z Ibid ,page 9, Secfion 27-12 "Flood plain or flood-prone area" 3Ibid, page 4, Section 27-4 (q (5) Ibid, page 4, Section 27-4 (j) 5 Ibid, page 8, Section 27-12 "Development" PA. Box 624 Holualoa, HI 96725 808-987-6146 kimura@alum.mit.edu