2017-06-22 Letter to J.C. King re FUDS

Home

WilOkabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444Fax (808) 323-4440 June 22, 2017 J.C. King Director of Munitions and Chemical Matters, ODASA(ESOH) James.C.King4.civ@mail.mil Dear Mr. King, RE:Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area FUDS Project No. H09HI035922 On behalf of the residents of Hawai’i Island, I would like to request the U.S. Army to change the direction of its Unexploded Ordinance Clearance Schedule and parcel out specific sites that are designated for affordable housing projects. The State of Hawai’i is mandated to build 22,000 affordable housing units by the year 2025 and the County of Hawai’i has been actively seeking ways to meet its part of this mandate. Approximately two (2) years ago, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was made aware of concerns of unexploded ordinances (UXO) in the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area. Since this notification, HUD has placed restrictions on new funding into this area, effectively stopping the development of four (4) multi-family, affordable housing projects that would provide desperately, needed housing for 1,564 families. In addition, there are two (2) existing affordable housing projects (consisting of 108 families), that need to have their properties surveyed and cleared to eliminate any danger from unexploded ordinances. These are: Proposed:Kamakoa Nui (County of Hawai’i)1,200 units Plumeria at Waikoloa (JSM Enterprises)200 units Waikoloa Family Affordable (Gary Furuta)104 units Kaialulu O Waikoloa (Urban Housing)60 units Existing:Waikoloa Gardents (Jack Hall Waikoloa)24 units Ke Kumu Ekaki (State Hawai’i Housing)94 units County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.