HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0898.008 2020-2022 P/pa
5il 17-
From: Janice Glennie
Sent: Monday,August 15, 2022 1:02 PM
To: Council Testimony, Villegas, Rebecca 1027 AUG 15 PH 1: 16
Subject: Support Bill 194
Bill 194 planning committee
Aloha committee members,
Mahalo to Councilman Inaba for taking the bull by the horns in addressing our county's widening and deepening
affordable housing crisis.
A Sunset clause is a clear and modem way to address the inequity and lack of enforcement impeding timely
fulfillment of affordable housing permitting given to developers. Currently it appears that the Planning Directors
and planning department have looked out for the applicants and their buyers more often than not, handing out free
delays of 15 to 25 years, even 40 years to one condo project off Alii Drive! This has meant a delay of thousands of
approved housing units while Hawaii residents live in substandard housing—or no housing at all.
Developer delays haven't been"beyond their control" in any accepted sense. However, no standards or rules are set
for what "beyond their control" means when deals are made with these individuals or companies. Floods,
labor strikes, or lava flowing down Kam 3 road haven't stopped developers from fulfilling their part of the deal, yet
planning directors or the planning department just continue to grant delays for just about any reason. Those reasons
could include a desire to wait for a better sales market or even for the developer to get funding that he swore he had
when he applied for the original permitting. Meanwhile the costs of land and building continue to rise, making the
reality of producing affordable housing farther from our reach. This isn't pono.
Lack of affordable housing is one of THE pressing issues of our times and always a stated goal of the planning
department and elected officials while wooing their constituents. A Sunset provision as provided in Bill 194 would
provide far more transparency and "checks and balances"than we've seen to date and should be supported by all
entities and individuals who honestly care about housing Hawaii's people. First and foremost, adding a Sunset clause
to our law provides a viable, sensible planning tool to help eliminate missed opportunities for providing truly
affordable housing to our people at a meaningful scale so that we can move forward to address this and other pressing
land use issues that aren't being adequately or fairly managed by the planning director or the planning department in
an expedient, public-centric manner.
Mahalo and sincerely,
Janice palma-Glennie
Kailua_Kona,ljawai'i 96745
Comm. No.
Ref.TO: VIPC
Ref. oats AUG 1 6 2022