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Os 4i yr ,33~. 1 DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCES:~ 6i1~?I~ iD ~ 919 Ala Moans Boulevard, Boom !01 • Honolulu, Hawaii 964.1:; .,q ~x Ph. (808) 586 8121 (V/TDb) • Pax (808) 586 S 129 STAFF SI7MMARY FOR THE DISABILITY AND COMMCJN1CATlON ACCESS E C? ]'7 ) STANDING COMMITTEE ON FACILITY ACCESS MEETING OCTO$ER 11, 2007 T PIC County of Hawaii Sill 151; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 27, I'':. 7C~ll CONTROL, HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS An!(ETI~.:I:'Ia_, RELATING TO FLOODPLAiN5 AND OTHER FLOOD [ lA7.ARD AREAS BACKGROUND: Bill 151 establishes Zone X as a "flood hazard or flood prone" arcs and requires nevv construction within Zone X to be built either two feet or one foot above the adjacent grade; depending upon the location, unless it can be shown that the property is not within a II oc~ci ; r n n area. DCAB received a request to review the County of Hawaii Bill 151, as there is co ncern t lin; the bill will reduce accessibility for persons with disabilities to new homes built within Ha~~ a i County. Bill 151 goes beyond the requirements in Bill S Z that establishes a Zone for "flood r ;:r or plain" to conform to the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. Proponents of $ill 151 seethe bill as a way to help prevent flooding in new developmf nts. Disability advocates feel the bill will be a detriment to disabled residerrts. Their conce.-n is tit an ADA matter, per se, but rather concerns the topic of "visitability." The concept of "visitability" promotes the construction of single family homes to offer specific features the', il.:l make ii possible for a person with a mobility impairment to live in or to visit ahome- "the specific features of a "visitable" home are: wide passage doors, a half bath or powder r:wm o. the ground floor sad at least one zero step entrance to the home on an accessible route -n•itl, a Eton stuface not exceeding a 1:12 slope from a driveway or public sidewalk. Other features which are recommended include: reinforced walls for the installation of grab bars, electrical controls and outlets located within accessible reach ranges, one full bath and one bedroom ,ti i!i . maneuvering space on the main accessible level. ANAL?SIS: ~ I The attached analysis discusses specific sections of the bill with regazds to the definition of Zu, _ ~ X, the construction requirements for that Zone and variances. II Although there is an'exemption', the exemption requires a properly assessment at the cost of :V e developer. In the cast of a single family home, the owner is usually the developer and w ill ha to pay for the cost of the survey and analysis to show it is not required to raise the floor level : i ~ their new home, thereby adding more cost to the construction of new homes for individual i property owners. If a homeowner elevates his or her own home because he or she does not currently have a disability, the homeowner is not only eliminating visitors but is also pre~.,iud,:~g the option to age in place when disability does occur later in life. In the case of a multi farnil dwelling unit such as an apartment or condominium, the cost of the developer tx'ill be pea sed o to the buyer. Developers may not pay to have their property surveyed so they will raise the fl~~c