2004-12-03 Planning Commission Minutes

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In response to the Commissions inquiry, Mr. Yuen said the Commission should still follow the current General Plan as it is still the overall guide and framework that the County operates under. He added that he would not say that any section has any precedence over the other, such as economic development over beauty and historic preservation; and if there is any conflict, it is up to the decision-maker to decide what is the right balance. County Housing Policy Relating to Land Use Approvals Mr. Yuen said the Administration is proposing to increase the in-lieu fee option to provide affordable housing, noting since 1998 until the last few months the Council has approved all requests for in-lieu fees. He said the way thefee will be calculated will be the difference betweenthe affordable price and what the lot or house is sold for times 20 percent. He referred to inclusionary zoning, which would include a mix of people in a new subdivided area. For Commissioner Springers information, Mr. Yuen said the in-lieu fee collected has to be earmarked for affordable housing but it would be under the Councils control. He said other possible areas that the money could be used for would be homeless shelters or other kinds of government housing programs, noting his concern of the private sector not being able to provide affordable homes to at least one-third of the population. He noted the County last developed affordable housing back in the early nineties but currently have an RFPtostartdevelopmentofaffordablehomeswithinWaikoloaVillage. CommissionerSpringerlaterstatedthathaving-acrelotsinanestatesettingarenot satisfying the needs of people who are working at the resort and driving in from Ocean View, or places even further than that. Mr. Yuen said this is where the Housing Policy would come in where if a project is passed in an area such as Kailua-Kona, the applicant is made aware that the County expects and will require a certain level of affordable housing. He pointed out that the only possible way to obtain affordable housing in Kailua-Kona would be with some kind of government subsidy, such as the government providing the land and major infrastructure and the developer provide such things as the interior roadways, electric, and the homes. He noted he is considering asking the State land between Palani Road and Kealakehe Highway be set aside for affordable housing because it is nonceded land and that the County has put some planning money in the latest CIP for a connector road from Palani to Kealakehe Parkway. For Chairman Galdones information, Mr. Yuen said that for every rezoning ordinance that would create new residential uses, he will be recommending a condition be imposed that the applicant would have to follow Chapter 11. He added that he felt the County does a good job in monitoring the affordable housing condition. In response to Commissioner Fujikawas inquiry, Mr. Yuen said one can fulfill the affordable housing requirement by doing a rental housing project. He added that if a developer does a multi-family rental project, there would probably have to be a rezoning 4