2014-02-06HEARINGTRANSCRIPT-VINCENTTAI REZ13-167

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questions asked of Mr. Tai, he, his common response is that well this is a conceptual design. It’s a proposed design. It’s subject to change later on. Well, we don’t have the opportunity later on as neighbors to give any input. Right now is our time to be able to have these things done as conditional requirements, and that’s what we’re asking. We’re either asking, as a Nishida family, we’re asking that this increase in density be denied, but if it’s not for whatever reasons, then we are asking that these conditional requirements be attached to the development so that it ensures that we’re protected for the future and it’s not something that’s just a proposed or conceptual idea. Thank you. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Mrs. Nishida. Any questions for the testifier. Commissioners? Ok. Mr. Rudo? You can go, can go next. RUDO: Good morning. ISHIBASHI: Good morning-- RUDO: Thank you, Commissioners. ISHIBASHI: State your name and address for the record please. RUDO: My name is Alan Rudo. I’m with the Office of Housing at 50 Wailuku. I’m a housing th and community development specialist. Um, my personal residence is 15-1812 30 Avenue, Kea‘au, Hawai‘i. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. RUDO: Sure. Um, every three to five years the County of Hawai‘i has performed what’s called a housing policy study, the last one was a Hawai‘i Housing Planning Study done 2011 by SMS Research and it was um done in conjunction with the other counties in the State of Hawai‘i defined what the stock was, what kind of need there is, what kind of gap there is, island by island. Um, this study looked at the total units needed from 2012 to 2016 both for the State and for the County. For rental units within our island, there is a gap of 1,753 units. Um, in the number, the percentages of area median income of 30 to 60 um percent of median income, there is about 406 units that are um in the gap right now. Um, we’ve been completing several projects on the County level, and most of them have been in Kona. We are finding that with the help of HHFDC--that’s Hawai‘i Housing Finance Development Corporation, a non-profit—we are able to get some of the units in the 30 to 50 percent, um but Mr. Tai’s testimony to be doing in the 60 to the 100 is probably the most difficult area of um satisfying because of the lack of um financing available from public entities. Um, yeah, right now, that we’re looking below um 30 percent of median income, we would need somewhere around 770 units. This study done by SMS was done in 2011 and was anticipating regular number of units being built. I actually believe that because of the slowdown that this gap is actually higher. Um, the total units in Hawai‘i County that are needed including ownership are 3,514. So, we can see that there is a dire need and um he has been working with our office on this project, um because when he—if he is granted this change of zone, he’ll have a requirement to do at least 20 percent affordable housing. Um, he’s come to our office and recommended that he do a 100 percent affordable 9 EXHIBIT E