HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.090 2018-2020 From: James McCully
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2020 5:07 PM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
Subject: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT - Bill 179 Time 5:07 Byf
Attachments: Council Testimony 179.docx
Date JUL 1. 9 2020
Please see attached.
Jim McCully
Mahalo,
James W. McCully
McCully Works
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
www.mccullyworks.com
Comm. No. 989.q
Ref.To: P/Counci
1 Ref. Date 1/22/2020
McCully Woks
69 Railroad Ave. AL-19
Hilo, Hi. 96720
808-933-7000
July 17, 2020
Council Chair Aaron Chung
Hawai'i County Council
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, Hi. 96720
Aloha Chair Chung and the Hawaii County Council
This letter is my testimony in support of Bill 179 why' seeks to improve the efficiency
of the review and administrative process currently inlace for permitting building
construction. For many years it has been discussed i our community that our current
system for processing building permits is unwieldy, i efficient, time consuming,
expensive, and wasteful. It has harmed our communi y and the people who seek to
improve their lives through more affordable housing dr a project brought to a more timely
conclusion are the victims of this situation. I would like to focus for a minute on the
affordable housing conundrum.
There are certain basic understandings as to what is the basis for the problem;
1. Owners, tenants, and buyers pay for the total cost of the construction; it's the end
user not the "developer" who is the ultimate "deep pocket". And most people in
the County of Hawaii don't have very deep pockets.
2. Unlike on the mainland the demand for housing on our island can't be shuffled off
to an adjacent County with more modern standards, or greater inventory of zoned
land, or more competitive labor or materials. We have to solve these problems on
our own in the interests of our citizens.
3. Zoning and building codes have a direct bearing on the cost of housing.
Minimum lot sizes, minimum infrastructure improvements, and conceptual
building standards rather than a code based on a actual local vernacular all
contribute to the likelihood that many of our citizens will be priced out of home
ownership. The only pressure relief valves we have on this island are the much-
criticized"substandard" subdivisions of Puna and Kau. Any planner or elected
official who says such a thing needs to take a hard look on whether that
characterization is fair or even accurate.
4. You can't build out new infrastructure and cost it in to the affordable housing that
the County is trying to promote. "Concurrency" is anathemic to solving the
current problem. The realistic solution of infill housing to utilize existing
infrastructure requires allowing increasingly smaller lots whether through zoning,
relaxed Ohana, or the use of the Condominium Property Regime (CPR).
5. Solving the cost of building on this island requires not only a simplification of the
above referenced processes for obtaining a permit but seeking new and more
efficient ways to get housing built quickly and efficiently. Factory Built Housing
is ubiquitous throughout the world and is expected to surpass 1,000,000 units in
2020. Can we in Hawaii afford to not take advantage of modern techniques that
are more labor, energy, material, and time efficient to create options for
homeowners throughout the County? Housing has never been a problem that
could not be solved for someone wishing to build a 2nd home in a luxury enclave
in Kona, or for a retiree to build their dream home with a lifetime of earnings
(savings) to rely on. With Factory Built Housing we are not affecting those
markets or interests directly, we are establishing options for those at the lower
economic strata, which is a more vital sector to focus on for a healthier
community.
I strongly support Bill 179 as written and hope it can be adopted and enacted so as to
have a more relevant Building and Residential Code. Time has changed our island and
our needs have evolved, the Code must as well. Please support Bill 179.
Mahalo,
Jim McCully