HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0898.018 2020-2022 L
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From:
Janice Glennie W C
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2023 1:31 PM C_CID
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To: Council Testimony
Cc: Villegas, Rebecca
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Subject: Bill 194 - Protect land through stronger regulation and oversight o
Aloha council committee chair and members,
I'm grateful to Council rep Inabla for introducing Bill 194 as a first step.The bill needs to be strengthened,
however,if it can meaningfully help protect our lands and communities while being more citizen than developer
empowering. Some thoughts on additions to the bill include:
Requiring that a more in-depth vetting of developers is completed before the rezoning process. (In some
cases,applicants have been found to lack the resources and experience they say they have when they get
their approvals.)
Prevent situations where rezoning occurs yet the developer is tardy in fulfilling their commitments.This
leaves land in an unprotected and/or unproductive state while local housing supply(if it's on the more
workforce end of the spectrum) doesn't happen as planned and lands sit fallow. Both situations can harm
native species on and near the land by allowing invasives including weeds and pests to grow unchecked.
Proactively address situations where cultural and historic lands are part of the permitting/rezoning.
Require periodic progress reports from developers with defined and required progress in those periods of
time for which they're reporting.
More clearly define"conditions beyond the control"of applicants. Lack of definition is what leads to legal
battles which cost everyone—including taxpayers.
Mahalo for doing everything in your power to help create affordable,workforce housing while protecting our land
and communities from miscreant and/or unfortunate developers and haphazard,unplanned rezonings.
Sincerely,
Janice Palma-Glennie
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