2006-05-05 TMochida - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

There is an extreme shortage of affordable homes. Projects like this help provide alternative forms of housing. Many can no longer live in the traditional American dream of a single-family residence on a large lot; but we can still help them fulfill the dream of a home through the creation of smaller lots, condos, and townhouses. These types of homes all provide needed housing alternatives and help strengthen the social fabric of our overall community. The Waiakea Houselots area is a good location for such a mixture of homes. At one point in time, this used to be a vibrant community. However, as families grew older, many have moved out of this area and chose to either sell or rent their homes. Today, while there are still homeowners, there are many rentals and increasing commercial and industrial uses. These changes, if planned well, should help make the Houselots area more of a cohesive community where people can work and live. OneofthethingsIwouldliketoseeismorehomeownershipinthisarea.Projectslikethishelp achieve that vision. Home ownership creates a greater sense of belonging and breeds a sense of caring. This is what we need to help make this area function more as a community. At the same time, certain basic infrastructure should be addressed. In this case, the applicants will be required to construct sidewalks fronting the property. This is good as it will make walking a bit safer. Others may say, well, the entire street should have sidewalks. Yes, it should, but it isnt fair to make that the sole responsibility of these applicants. Even we, as lot owners, dont want to pay for that cost fronting our properties for the community good. I think they are doing their share and more. And maybe we should step up and do our part, too, for with or without this project the conditions will still remain the same. There have been concerns over drainage. However, it is my understanding that any additional drainage created by this project will have to be contained on the property. With the sidewalk and drywells they will have to construct fronting their properties, there should not be any water ponding on the road fronting their properties. Yes, I am supportive of this project. It is needed for the overall community; it is needed to help make Waiakea Houselots a more vibrant, stable, and caring community. Thank you. ALAMEDA:Thank you, Mr. Hirano. Questions? Seeing none, you may be seated. Can you please state your name and address for the record. YOUNG:Good afternoon, My name is Tim Young, PO Box 1473, Hilo. I have an interest in property at 500 Lanikaula Street. This has been passed on through our family from my grandparents to currently my brother and sisters and myself. And we have interest in other properties. Im the one thats basically consolidating the interest so I can move to develop, because my sisters and my brothers have no interest in moving home because theres no opportunities for the occupations that they currently are involved in in Hilo. And in my hana butta days when we grew up in the summer months, children for jobs they went to Lanai and Molokai to pick pineapples. The girls worked in a cannery in Honolulu. When I was in high school Harry Kim was a counselor. And as we moved towards graduation, we had to realize were going to be packing our bags. And either we go to Viet Nam with the draft or were going to college. And our group of friends said, okay, guys, we go to college because wed like to see, 20EXHIBIT C