COM 0176.164 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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HLPC Te~imony 70 June 2007 Re: 811151, D3 Based on our review of Bills 51 and 151 respectively and comprehensively, HLPC observes the following: • Bill 51, Draft 5 addresses exclusively the requirements necessary for compliance with the NFIP; • Bill 151, Draft 2 addresses the requirements necessary for compliance with the NFIP and includes additional requirements which appear to be arbitrary and unsupported by scientific and engineering considerations and which have served as the center of numerous discussions in the professional and private sectors questioning (including and not limited to) o Land use constitutionality, o Costs of implementation for both public and private sectors; o Impact on affordable housing and other goals stated by the Council and Administration; o Practicality of implementation; o Enforcement; and o Interpretation. Bill 151, Draft 2 and its proponents recommend that the effective date for proposed additional requirements that currently do not fully satisfy questions posed about implementation and interpretation be deferred until March 2008 to allow additional consideration to be given and time for the public and professional arenas (including County Departments of Planning and Public Works} to transition to new requirements proposed in a bill that "lacks two or three clauses that can be added later" (quote credited to Bruce McClure, Director of Public Works by reporter Jim Quirk in West Hawaii Todav, Thursday, August 23, 2007). HLPC fully supports adoption of requirements to ensure compliance with NFIP and referencing Chapter 27, Section 27-10 which reads in part that "The degree of flood protection required by this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on saentific and engineering considerations" to serve as the litmus test for the ordinance that is ultimately passed, HLPC strongly supports and respectfully recommends that the Council pass Bill 51, Draft 5 today to ensure compliance with the NFIP. HLPC strongly opposes Bill 151 and believes that scientific, engineering, and legal considerations must be made part of the comprehensive discussion for any additional requirements including and not limited to, those proposed in Bill 151 which "can be added later" to amend Chapter 27. There area number of individuals testifying before you today who join me both to support this recommendation; and to reiterate our continued support of, and commitment to, a collaborative effort to address concerns and refine flood control and storm water management to ensure health, safety, and protection of life and property. In closing, please pass Bill 51 and please reject Bill 151. Thank you for this opportunity to express our views and we look forward to Continuing to work with you on this matter. Respectfully submitted, Jacqui L. Hoover President Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference Page 2 of 2