Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> FROM FRX N0. Rug. 10 2007 10:3Lar ='1. <br /> 1 Open Letter to the Hawaii COUnty Council <br /> uLa <br /> May I start by saying "Thank You Mayor Kim" for your aadom <br /> and courage in vetoing those bills ,;elating to affordable <br /> -,#~ousing, There is no doubt that there are many people in Wsst <br /> ~'kawaii and elsewhere that are in need for affordable housi:~~~, <br /> but I do not believe the approach taken by some members o£ :he <br /> Hawaii County Council is proper. Providing for housing four <br /> this segment of our population should be the responsibilit~~ <br /> of all of the people in the State and Country. T do not sEa:: <br /> the need for affordable housing to end in the forseeable f,.cure. <br /> I don't believe passing on the responsibilty of provir,.ng <br /> affordable homes to developers will achieve the goal of pro,~i.dix!g <br /> affordable homes_ What you will be doing is to drive up th.! <br /> rost of homes and make it more difficult for those who havEa <br /> worked and saved towards their dreams of owning their own <br /> homes. It is a given that no developer will risk millions <br /> ~9eveloping a subdivision if the bottom line does not show so.r;e <br /> profit for his venture. In reality, additional cost placed <br /> sy the 25>k affordable requirement will be tacked on to the>_ <br /> .remaining 75ss of the home buyers in that subdivision. <br /> What you will achieve iS a County sponsored lottery fo:. <br /> ~t particular Segment of our population who luckily falls ir, <br /> '.he Category making them eligible for the lottery. Will the~iCe <br /> be a requirement that they maintain residence in the home ie;:r <br /> ut least 25 years before they can sell and enjoy the grofit'.' <br /> Possible Solutions: The County and the State should ir:;>k <br /> :.nto County and State owned lands for possible development <br /> affordable rentals_ If affordable homes are built, these hates <br /> shall not be re-sold to the general public. These should cr_;.y <br /> t>e re-sold at set prices to those qualifying for affordable <br /> homes. The funding for these affordable rentals or homes <br /> ;should come from County, State, and Federal taxes. <br /> Another approach is to provide Tax Incentives to large <br /> land owners to develop some of their lands for affordable hones. <br /> The County and State need to become pro-active by helping <br /> developers of affordable homes with water, roads, and other <br /> infrastructure needs, environmental studies, archeplogical <br /> =.tudies, etc. <br /> A possible outcome from the current approach is that K-;, ._a <br /> and West Hawaii will become the home for only the very wealY.l-y. <br /> If the intent of the County Council is to stop developments, <br /> then you may very well succeed. <br /> Morris Kimura <br /> 77-6630 Walua Rd. <br /> Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 <br /> Comm. No. y-~S- I9 <br /> Ref. Toe ~n~e~ <br /> Ref. Date, 22 2007 <br /> <br />