HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0417.012 2020-2022 Cs
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November 13, 2021
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RE: expedited building permits for"certain projects"
Dear Hawaii Councilman,
Why is Mayor Roth and Mr. Rodenhurst expediting EPIC residential building permit applications for
certain projects, particularly for licensed contractors? Therefore excluding Owner-Builders that have
already applied and paid fees in August; Owner-Builders as well as the building plans of licensed
contractors that have been returned for corrections,should be treated the same and not be pushed to
the back of the line. We purchased this property and we have paid high property taxes and income taxes
in Hawaii for 40+years, and West Hawaii for 30+years.
We should be considered part of the expedited process.This seems to be discriminatory,we are not
required by the county building process to have certain licensed building contractors. We are only
talking about 2 months of the EPIC building permit process,why are certain licensed contractors worried
about waiting in line to get their permits before anybody else?
We paid our fees before this change was made, and we should not have to be punished and pushed to
the bottom of the EPIC pile due to certain projects, who are these "certain projects" and why are they all
of a sudden the priority(who have the money to hire a licensed contractor) moving here to the islands.
What about the local long-time residents of the Hawaiian islands,we have been paying taxes to Hawaii
for the past 50+years and are all of a sudden being pushed to the back of the permit line,so that new
residents moving to the islands,who hired a licensed contractor,can get their permit sooner and build a
home sooner,than local residents? Once these "certain projects" are expedited,are the rest of the
applications that weren't given special treatment,then going to be expedited? EPIC was put in place July
26, this is November; it would only be equitable to push all plans through that can be passed,especially
plans that were already submitted PRIOR to this new plan to"expedite permits for certain projects"
being made public via the West Hawaii Today on October 31st, 2021; we submitted our Owner-Builder
permit application and paid our fees in August 2021 and submitted our full application by September
7th, 2021 to EPIC(Permit Number: PW.B2021-001120K);our permit application was submitted and paid
for well before this new plan was made aware to the public. It is the Architect, NOT the licensed
contractor,who certifies that the plans are up to the current code,they are responsible for the building
plans being up to code, not the licensed contractor. Hence, if you want to expedite the process of
permits being issued,then perhaps any permits that appropriately reflect the new building codes should
be the ones that are expedited;whether permits are for licensed contractors or Owner-Builders does not
and should not make a difference.
This is inappropriate of the Mayor and Mr. Rodenhurst changing the rules of the building permit process,
especially for applications that were already sitting in the system waiting for review, before you made
this change to expedite any applications by certain licensed contractors. How are you helping with
affordable homes if you are detering/delaying Owner-Builders from getting their permit and being able
to build a residence on a piece of land they purchased for that purpose,where are they supposed to live
Comm. o.
Ref.To:
Ref. Date 2021
inthe mean-time;are the local residents supposed.tnmove away from Hawaii tothe mainland sothey
can find affordable housing,and therefore be replaced by new residents wanting to move to Hawaii from
the mainland? Why are certain licensed-contractors being pushed through first, ahead ofthe Owner-
Builders asvve|| as |icensed-oontractorsthathavehadtheirp|ansre1urnedfn/cornecdons; isittograni
them the privi|edgeofcutting in line for building materials/electrician and plumbing subs,etc,that are
currently in short-supply due to the well-known supply-chain issues;so that licensed contractors can lock
in cheaper prices and get their homes built before prices increase further, leaving the Owner-Builders to
scramble as last in-line for materials and higher prices as inflation on building materials continue to run
rampant? Will there be retaliation for local residents that bring up any issues they have with this unfair
plan to give priority to I ice nsed-contracto rs; a lot of other Hawaii residents that are Owner-Builders and
contractors are not willing to stand up because they are afraid they will never get their building permit.
Sincerely,
LaDonnaShive|y
Permit Number: PVKB2O21-O81lZ0K