HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0052.003 2020-2022 fiPC
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From: Steph Bath
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 12:00 PM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAIII
Subject: Bill 12 RECEIVED
Time { p. —
Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz and committee member, 5 2421
As a resident of the Puna district and small business owner I am testifying generally on this
Bill.
As you are aware, Puna District has been sorely lacking in many levels of service. Health care is
one of them.
The Puna Community Development Plan under its Managing Growth theme supports
"improving the delivery of social services and housing assistance; and providing the necessary
public services.... that supports community-building and an improved quality of life."
3.1.1 Goals a.Puna retains a rural character while it protects its native natural
and cultural resources.
b. The quality of life improves and economic opportunity expands
for Puna's residents. Underserved subdivisions that have been
experiencing higher levels of development growth
c. Services and community facilities are more accessible in
village/town centers that are distributed throughout the region, including the
underserved subdivisions that have been experiencing higher
levels of development growth
Much of the land in Puna, where populations reside are agricultural lands. We are all aware
that these lands are being used more and more as residential properties. Still, levels of service
to support these populations are sorely lacking. This requires residents to stress infrastructure
as they get in their vehicles (mass transit is not viable) and use fossil fuel to travel to their
health care destinations.
Coupled with this, the Coronavirus situation has polarized more and more consumers away
from large clinics and health care facilities. They want to stay closer to home. This has actually
been true prior to the pandemic.
I-IRS 4.32 allows for massage therapy establishments to be located within residences provided
that they conform to health and safety standards provided for in the statute and local
ordinances.
There are many folks that are currently practicing illegally as they provide a level of service to
the community. This is occuring Island wide.
As I am currently revising my use permit, the obstacles before me as a small business owner is
concerning.
As you reflect on this bill and /or any other bill please consider these questions:
Is our main focus to protect the health and safety of the public?
Are bills/ordinances consistent with the goals of CRP's?
Are we supporting and encouraging small businesses to thrive as they collaborate with the
County in providing lacking levels of services within communities?
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Are we putting up unreasonable obstacles that make it impossible for those seeking to be legal
by getting use permits to get them?
If so, what is that about? Are obstacles in place at a State level? Is the County communicating
with the State legislature to adapt laws to community needs where health and safety are not
being jeopardized (and where permits are in alignment with CDPs?
During this time of economic challenge there are those of us in the health field that are seeking
to provide health care services to our community in a safe way with sanitation protocols in
place.
We have health care providers wanting our assistance as they attempt to refer patients. We are
unable to provide for these needed services because the use permit requirements are
unreasonable.
In closing I will give one example:
I am told that in order for an LMT to have one dedicated room within a residence to practice in
our rural subdivisions, that person must provide 30ooGPM for water for two hours for fire
mitigation. Consider that the health care provider will have one patient receiving a Treatment
during regular business hours. There is an egress window and ADA wide doors to quickly exit
through if fire occurs.
Now consider in the same residence there is an 18 month old toddler and disabled chair ridden
85 year old sleeping and residing. The same structure does NOT require the same fire
mitigation. Can you see how unreasonable the requirements for small businesses are?
I encourage the new planning admin to sit down with our mayor, CDP action committees and
the public to come up with reasonable ways to build a vibrant and healthy community.
I apologize for the organization and content of this testimony: I have one minute to send this to
make the deadline.
Thanks for your service,
Stephanie Bath, Kurtistown
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