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EMIJUT My I I N I a) W1190 W 1219119L� <br />LAND USE, AND DEVELOPMENT <br />DATE: October 3, 2023 Re: Comm. No. 461/13 ill No. 72 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:17 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development, to which was referred Bill <br />No. 72, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 72, transmitted by Committee Member Heather Kimball and Committee Member Holeka <br />Inaba via Communication No. 461, dated September 14, 2023, amends Chapter 11, Article 1, <br />Sections 11-3 and 11-13 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), Relating <br />to Affordable Housing. <br />The bill amends and adds definitions and adds the Housing Administrator's powers and duties <br />regarding the eligibility requirements for affordable housing. <br />Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) Administrator Susan Kunz was <br />available via Zoom for questions. <br />The current bill expands on a prior proposal from earlier this year, co -introduced by Ms. Kimball <br />and Mr. Inaba. The main goal is to give local residents better access to housing. The bill <br />empowers the Housing Administrator to prioritize qualified residents, workers, and returning <br />students. It allows the Housing Administrator to use discretion to determine the eligibility radius <br />for qualified workers' housing. <br />Ms. Kunz expressed gratitude to Ms. Kimball and Mr. Inaba for their dedicated work on this bill. <br />She believes it effectively supports first-time homebuyers, members of the workforce <br />community, and returning students. She emphasized that the bill applies to projects developed <br />by the OHCD. <br />Ms. Kimball clarified that prioritizing eligibility based on residency duration is not legal. <br />Committee Member Cindy Evans raised questions about bill eligibility aligning with marital <br />unions in Hawaii. Corporation Counsel will address this in the next meeting. Ms. Kunz stated <br />the Chapter 11 amendment doesn't require a rule change. She added the need for the OHCD to <br />establish a documentation policy to address proving qualified residency. Committee Member <br />Jennifer Kagiwada and Committee Member Susan Lee Loy asked if recently married applicants <br />with joint ownership of a house would still qualify. Ms. Kimball clarified that prior ownership <br />of the house is necessary for eligibility. <br />PCPLUD Report No. 5 <br />