HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PCPLUD 005 2023/10/03 (2022-2024)EMIJUT My I I N I a) W1190 W 1219119L�
LAND USE, AND DEVELOPMENT
DATE: October 3, 2023 Re: Comm. No. 461/13 ill No. 72
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 1:17 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development, to which was referred Bill
No. 72, reports as follows:
Bill No. 72, transmitted by Committee Member Heather Kimball and Committee Member Holeka
Inaba via Communication No. 461, dated September 14, 2023, amends Chapter 11, Article 1,
Sections 11-3 and 11-13 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), Relating
to Affordable Housing.
The bill amends and adds definitions and adds the Housing Administrator's powers and duties
regarding the eligibility requirements for affordable housing.
Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) Administrator Susan Kunz was
available via Zoom for questions.
The current bill expands on a prior proposal from earlier this year, co -introduced by Ms. Kimball
and Mr. Inaba. The main goal is to give local residents better access to housing. The bill
empowers the Housing Administrator to prioritize qualified residents, workers, and returning
students. It allows the Housing Administrator to use discretion to determine the eligibility radius
for qualified workers' housing.
Ms. Kunz expressed gratitude to Ms. Kimball and Mr. Inaba for their dedicated work on this bill.
She believes it effectively supports first-time homebuyers, members of the workforce
community, and returning students. She emphasized that the bill applies to projects developed
by the OHCD.
Ms. Kimball clarified that prioritizing eligibility based on residency duration is not legal.
Committee Member Cindy Evans raised questions about bill eligibility aligning with marital
unions in Hawaii. Corporation Counsel will address this in the next meeting. Ms. Kunz stated
the Chapter 11 amendment doesn't require a rule change. She added the need for the OHCD to
establish a documentation policy to address proving qualified residency. Committee Member
Jennifer Kagiwada and Committee Member Susan Lee Loy asked if recently married applicants
with joint ownership of a house would still qualify. Ms. Kimball clarified that prior ownership
of the house is necessary for eligibility.
PCPLUD Report No. 5
PCPLUD-5 Page 2 October 3, 2023
Ms. Lee Loy expressed hope that future developments will consider using this tool to provide
housing for locals when seeking opportunities from the council.
Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder expressed support for the bill, emphasizing the
need to prioritize locals for housing.
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked Ms. Kimball and Mr. Inaba for their work to
provide a point of reference to negotiate with housing developers. She sees it as a valuable tool
to prioritize housing for local residents the OHCD is in negotiations with.
Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development is in accord with the purpose
and intent of Bill 72, and recommends its passage on first reading. ,
k'
Respectfully submitted,
POLICY COMMITTEE ON
PLANNING, LAND USE,
EV LO MENT
0
ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
PCPLUD REPORT NO.: 5
ADOPTED: 0 C T 1 8 2023
AYES NOES ABS EX
EVANS
X
GALIMBA
X
INABA
X
KAGIWADA
X
KANEALI°I-KLEINFELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
LEE LO Y
X
VILLEGAS
X
Respectfully submitted,
POLICY COMMITTEE ON
PLANNING, LAND USE,
EV LO MENT
0
ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
PCPLUD REPORT NO.: 5
ADOPTED: 0 C T 1 8 2023