HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.075 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
HAWAII LEEWARD PLANNING CONFERENCE COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
P.O. BOX 2159 • KAMUELA,HAWAII 96743-2159 _ RECEIVED
Time 1:21 am By $fe
Hawai' i County Council Date JUL 2 1 2020
West Hawai' i Civic Center
75-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Bldg A
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
2020 July 22
9:00 A.M.
In Consideration of Bill 179
Aloha Chair Chung, Vice Chair Eoff and Honorable Council Members,
These remarks are offered on behalf of Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference (HLPC), a private
member-based 501(c)3 organization incorporated in 1974 by a group of forward-looking
individuals who saw the need for an organization to work collaboratively with government
and the community to promote sound planning decisions.
Similarly, Bill 179 represents forward-looking policy and process by establishing a framework
to align all construction codes in our county. As public policies and processes develop and
are periodically updated, an inadvertent consequence can be a patchwork of codes that are
contradictory and subjective. Such is the case with our construction codes and HLPC's 100+
members and affiliates appreciate the opportunity to participate in the discussion to take
corrective measures and strongly support Bill 179.
Adoption of a single permit system in lieu of the current multi-permit requirements will
exclude cross-jurisdictional confusion and contradiction. Streamlining the administrative
process allows for efficiency and expediency, and simultaneously frees up oversight and other
resources to ensure high standards and community concerns including safety, public health,
resources, and environment are protected and maintained.
HLPC has also long advocated that housing to address the needs of all socio-economic levels
is critical to our community's health, well-being, and economic viability. In particular, the
crisis-level need for attainable and affordable housing must be addressed. Inclusion of
factory-built housing and tiny homes demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of and
outfits our County's toolkit with options to address, critical housing needs faced by our
community including our assets limited income constrained employed (ALICE) and other
vulnerable neighbors.
In closing, thank you for this opportunity to express our strong support for Bill 179 which
offers a gateway to consistency, efficiency, and expediency.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jacqui Hoover, President
Comm..No. '89.
Ref. To: ' COun
Ref. Date 7®2020