2007-03-16 TBILLS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Bill 318, both the Councils version and the Directors version, operate at the zoning stage. And they really set out some parameters with respect to roads and water in analyzing new rezonings. They would basicallyrequire traffic impact analysis reports for a certainly level of development. Let me talk about the Directors version of 318 in a little more detail. It would require at a certain size of development, which is something thats spelled out in the Institute for Traffic Engineers manual, it would require a traffic impact analysis report. And it would require an analysis both of the immediate locality and a regional road system. If the road system was operating at a poor level it would require either that the rezoning be denied or that it be accompanied by conditions that delay the occupancy until the road conditions improve or the developer would have to do specific types of improvements. Now the actual improvements would be a function of the rezoning ordinance in question. But what this would spell out is the types of improvements that should accompany a rezoning under these circumstances. It also spells out the standards and expectations on the water level. There are also a series of exceptions tothis,thelargestbeingaffordablehousingthatprovidestwotimesthenormalrequirement.Part of the traffic problem, and this has been the element of the public infrastructure that probably got the most complaints in the last few years, part of the traffic problem is very much tied to the housing problem. Theres not enough affordable housing for people within places like Kailua- Kona or the North Kohala or South Kohala resorts where a lot of people commute to their jobs. So we dont want to have the effect of denying a rezoning that supports affordable housing in these areas because the traffic situation is bad. That may exacerbate the problem by just making no alternatives for people who want to get to work but have to live farther and farther away from the existing subdivisions, or taking the bus from Hilo, or even points beyond. So those are the major recommended exceptions in 318. The 319 is a bill that would apply at the subdivision stage. This would apply to property thats already zoned. It would have the effect of holding up the subdivision of that property if traffic levels were below a certain level in the vicinity. For reasons that are more spelled out in the recommendation, were recommending denial of that, and also 328 and 329. There is a detailed write-up of both background and recommendation on this that spells out a lot of the reasoning and details. I think itd be best for me, rather than to go through that, just to take questions the Commission may have about this. GRAHAM:Should we hold up on their questions until we get public testimony or would you rather we do some questions first? YUEN:Its up to the Commission. ALAMEDA:Id prefer testimony first. GRAHAM:Good. We have only one testifier signed up at this point so that will make it go quickly. I have Bob Hunter signed up. Thank you, Mr. Hunter. Could you just raise your right hand. And Ill ask you to swear or affirm that you will tell the truth on this matter before the Planning Commission today? HUNTER:I will. 3EXHIBIT D