HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0516.005 2022-2024P CAunuf
III 84
cow. 51(6
October 27, 2023 1023 27 '^ 'A r-,i q: 4r
Council of the County of Hawaii
Re: Bill 84
Aloha, members of the Planning, Land Use & Development Committee and all County Council Members
Thank you for the opportunity to submit opinions regarding this proposed bill. I am submitting
testimony in opposition to Bill 84. While I feel that the purpose of the proposed changes sounds good,
in reality it benefits the County more than the permit applicants.
The permit applicant has 180 days to obtain a permit from the date that the application is submitted. If
DPW staffing shortages occur, which is a distinct possibility, and an applicant receives a deficiency
notification well into the timeline, the applicant will then have little time to correct the issue. That the
County "may" grant an extension, only after the applicant files for it in writing could well cause further
delays and also cause the applicant to have to start the process over completely from square one.
At the Council meeting in which this bill was presented members of DPW used words like "effort,"
"hope" and "goals" which are not meaningful for the public should something occur that is out of their
control. There are deadlines for the applicant but not the County. These proposed changes to Hawaii
County Code Chapter 5, article 4, section 5-4-7 hold only the permit applicants to deadlines and could
incentivize dishonesty and possible bribery which as we are all aware has been a problem here in Hawaii.
For these reasons I oppose the changes proposed in Bill 84 and urge the Council members to revise the
language to hold the County to the same deadlines as the applicants. Or to abandon these proposed
changes altogether as I do not see that they do anything to "protect life and safety" as the Purpose of
the bill states.
Thank you for your consideration.
ctfully submitt ,
Dil h0C�/�l
Hilo resident
808-640-2544
joy@joydillon.corn
Comm. N
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