HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 041 2022/01/05 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: January 5, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 550/Bill No. 101
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 101, reports as follows:
Bill No. 101, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth via Communication 550, dated November 18,
2021, amends the State Land Use Boundaries Maps for the County Of Hawaii by changing the
District Classification from Agricultural to Urban District at Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii,
covered by Tax Map Key: 2-4-001:168. The area is approximately 9.091 acres. The applicant is
Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC).
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this
amendment which would provide 90-units of affordable housing and other related services in
South Hilo. The property is located west of the Mohouli and Komohana Street intersection in
Waiakea.
Jeremy McComber, Chief of Operations for HIDCD, was present via Zoom. He explained that
this amendment is necessary for HICDC to move forward on its project of 90 affordable housing
units designed as a"pocket neighborhood." He shared that the project would integrate senior
housing with low-income housing, and that the design is intentional to encourage socializing and
recreation in the lots, fostering a tight-knit community.
Committee Member Aaron Chung asked Mr. Darrow what happens with the project after
Bill No. 101 is passed. Mr. Darrow responded that HICDC currently has a 201H application with
the Office of Housing & Community Development regarding this project, and so should Bill 101
and the 201H be approved by the full Council, HICDC can begin construction. Committee
Member Chung brought up concerns from constituents around unintended consequences of
low-income housing but voiced his support for the project and HICDC saying they are a great
company that's worked closely with him and the neighbors to address these concerns.
Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Mr. McComber how much HICDC's lease
for the land was, to which he responded that it was $100 a year in order to keep the units
affordable. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder noted that it was interesting that HICDC was slated to
build 90 units when they committed to building 200.
PC Report No.: 41
PC-41 Page 2 January 5,2022
Committee Member Heather Kimball asked if a 12-inch water line is sufficient for the project
and how long the project is intended to be considered affordable. Mr. McComber responded that
the 12-inch water line would be sufficient, and the affordable housing component is typically
55-75 years, but their intent is to keep it affordable in perpetuity. Committee Member Kimball
then encouraged Mr. McComber to embrace energy efficiency mechanisms and electric vehicle
charging as State and Federal resources were becoming available to support this.
Committee Vice-Chair Rebecca Villegas highlighted Resolution 428-19, noting that HICDC
committed to building 200 affordable units and wanted clarification for why there was a
deviation to only 90 being constructed. Committee Chair Kierkiewicz offered that the
Resolution was related to a senior affordable housing project that HICDC had already built,
and was unrelated to the matter before Your Committee.
Committee Chair Kierkiewicz voiced her appreciation for the work HICDC, Keith Kato, and
Mr. McComber have done,their approach to building community through housing, and
excitement around their piloting the innovative pocket neighborhood design.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with 9 "ayes."
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 101, and
recommends its passage on first reading.
S
AYES NOES ABS Ex Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
INABA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
LEE LOY x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 41
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: JAN 1 9 2022