HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0898.029 2020-2022 P
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From: Cory
Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2023 10:04 PM
To: Evans, Cynthia F.W.; Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba, Holeka; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Kanealii-
Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley, Kimball, Heather; Lee Loy, Sue;Villegas, Rebecca;
Council Testimony
Subject: support Bill 194 zoning PCPLUD Feb 7
Aloha Councilmembers, Please support Bill 194. Our earlier testimony is copied below. mahalo, Cory
support for Bill 194
requiring County Council approval for time extensions to fulfil conditions for zoning changes
for Planning, Land Use, and Development Committee
9 AM Thursday,January 5 2023
from Cory Harden, Sierra Club Hawai'i Island Group
Thank you to Holeka Inaba for introducing this bill to provide more public input on land use decisions.
Unfortunately, it's difficult to see the current situation as anything less than rubber-stamping. Planning allows
developers with, for example,five years to fulfil conditions required for re-zoning, to wait till year six to request an
extension—pretty much assuming the extension will be granted.And the Planning Director can approve extensions with
no input from the public or County Council.
Some developers seem to get rezoning with no intention of actually building anything, but solely to boost the property
value so they can sell at a profit. At Palamanui, County Council granted three rounds of concessions, despite fierce
community opposition,then the project was promptly sold.
It also seems that some developers keep doing extensions till they get a Planning Commission and Council and Mayor
they like.Then they go for approval of new conditions—which are often eliminating bike paths, dispensing with traffic
studies, and building less affordable housing.
But when extensions are granted, conditions may have changed drastically over time.There may be more neighbors and
more traffic;a similar development may have reduced the demand for this type of project;species may have become
endangered;climate change may have changed shoreline or flood zones; or many other things.
Bill 194 is a good first step on rezoning issues. Several related issues may be best addressed in the re-write of the zoning
code:
• Vetting developers to ensure they can do what they promise.At Keahuolu, the Forest City company
received a state award to develop the Kamakana$734 million affordable-housing project,then withdrew from
the deal.The state had invested over$20 million.
Having developers file periodic reports on progress in fulfilling conditions.
Defining"conditions beyond the control"of the applicant.We don't want abuse of an easy escape hatch,
but do want to allow justifiable extensions—e.g. a couple applies, then one of them passes away before the
zoning conditions are fulfilled.
Mahalo for your consideration. Comm. %-V
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ef. Bate__, 2023