HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.150 2018-2020 i
ROGER V. MEEKER
P.O. BOX S7
HAWAII NATIONAL PARK
HAWAII 96718
I
{
DATE:
August 4, 2020
TO: Hawaii County Councilmembers:
Aaron Chung, Chairman
Valerie T. Poindexter COUNTY CLERK
Susan "Sue" Lee Loy C® I'I
Ashley Lehualani Kierkiewicz RECEIVED
Wpm
Matt Kaneali'i-KleinfelderTime •
Maile Medeiros David
RebeccaDate AUG 0 4 2020
Vill
eggs
Karen Eoff
FROM: Honoka'a Plantation Cottages LLC
RE: FACTORY-BUILT HOUSING & AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Proposed Appendix amendments to Bill 179
To the County Councilmembers who will be holding their final reading this Wednesday on Bill 179,the new
consolidated Construction Code, I would like to offer the following comments.
Factory-built modular housing(FBH) has been recently characterized in our two daily newspapers as
"'controversial". That is not an accurate portrayal.
The reality is that factory-built housing is by far the most cost-effective means by which affordable product can
be added to our housing inventory, a reality that was recognized eight years ago when FBH provisions were first
added to the building code. Centralizing much of the construction costs (while still employing local workers
carpenters, electricians and plumbers),and shortening the woefully long permitting process,generates
considerable savings which can be passed along to buyers (while still maintaining an appropriate level of quality).
HPM should be applauded for their commitment to provide a cost-effective way to address the great shortage
of affordable housing inventory, as has been mirrored across the country. My partner and I are presently
working in good faith with the Planning Dept. in our desire to privately develop a small community of attractive,
modestly-sized affordable homes that Big Island families can actually afford to buy. Realistically,the
combination of high land costs and the need to ship all building materials from the mainland render it
economically impractical for developers to address the affordable housing need.
Considering today's ever-increasing construction costs,as well as the increasingly protracted permitting
process,factory-built housing is a great way-- basically the only way--for private industry to actually deliver
affordable product. Councilmembers all say they want affordable housing, and for good reason. In the islands,
we have the highest rental rates vs. income levels in the country,and the price of housing is driving many life-
long residents to move to the mainland. Although the State of Hawaii's 201 H program was adopted to
stimulate the building of more affordable housing,the stark reality is that very little has been delivered
compared to the overwhelming need; in fact, Planning Dept. officials have informed me that no 201 H projects
have been successfully processed under the current administration.
. .�
® VC00cil
Ref. Date
®�
If government is serious about having private'Industry play a role in the development of affordable housing,then
an innovative solution like HPM's HalePlus program should embraced. Opposing factory-built housing or
adopting unreasonable code impediments to its'Implementation runs the risk of choking off a very viable
solution. Please do the right thing for Big Island families very much in need of housing they can afford.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
�,ei' 7-
Roger V. Meeker �
Volcano,Hawaii
It;-V