HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0417.008 2020-2022 T
t
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2021 12:04 PM
COUNTY
CLERK
To: Peter In COUNTY OF HAWAIII
Cc: Council Testimony RECEIVED
Subject: RE: Input on Building Permits backlog TimeC213t .wt
Date NOV 0 1 2021
From: Peter In
Sent: Monday, November 1, 202112:01 PM
Subject: Input on Building Permits backlog
Dear Sirs:
Thank you for dealing with this critical issue. My name is Dr. Peter In. I am a retired psychiatrist who was one of the founding
staff members
of what is now Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital. In medicine whenever there is a disaster and an influx of victims to
the emergency
room, the first thing the staff does is to perform a "Triage Evaluation"on all those brought in for care. Taking into consideration
the available
professional staff, the number of victims and the available equipment...a quick assessment of the level of need each individual
requires is performed.
Those with injuries too severe to be adequately treated are set aside and provided palliative care. Likewise those with minor
injuries or injuries
which do not require immediate attention are placed in a holding enviroment. Those who need immediate care with the
likelihood of survival
are then prioritized.
I would suggest that the Building Department needs to do a similar assessment on the deluge of building permit applications. In
addition to the
criteria that has been reported in the press I would like to make a few comments. I do not think it fair that only applications with
contractors be
considered first. I have been working for years to build an additional farmhouse dwelling on my 3 acre property in Waimea
where I hope to
spend my twilight years living on the land. I appealed successfully with the Leeward Planning Commission and was granted
permission by
the Planning Department for a Additional Farmhouse Dwelling. I had a contract for a 3 bedroom modular home with Linwood
Builders but
then COVID hit in 2020 and the price of lumber skyrocketed and Linwood was unable to extend the contract and I had to forfeit
my considerable 11
Comm. o. 1
Ref. To: P I P h tAT(-/
1 Ref. Date--NOV--.:i2 7fl�
deposit of$16,000. So I had to start from scratch with my architect and downsize to a one bedroom cottage but wasn't able to
submit plans until EPIC
happened. I have approached several contractors but they won't look at my plans until I have a permit. This is a Gatch-22 if the
County prioritizes
plans by owners with contractors.
Other considerations instead would be the age of the applicants, perhaps age 65+since we have less waiting time left for us. If
the building is intended
to be a primary residence, that should allow for a higher priority. Likewise, smaller, simpler houses which can be quickly
processed and constructed
should be expedited since this would allow more construction and a greater reduction of the backlog. It is a shame that a
promising new method is
creating the opposite effect of speeding up the process of issuing building permits. However, applying the TRIAGE concept
with a set of criteria
appropriate to construction goals and factors could significantly speed the process and unjamming the backlog.
I hope these comments are of help. Best wishes for success.
With sincere regards,
Peter A. In, M.D.
retired
2