HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0677.006 2022-2024COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
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Aloha Council Chair Kimball, Committee Chair Kierkiewicz and Council
Members:
Testimony on Bill 123 for Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on
Planning, Land Use and Development, Meeting of January 23, 2024
The key to having a vibrant, sustainable and fiscally sound County involves
going back to the future — to return to the traditional higher densities in
Hawai`i's towns and villages.
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Allowing increased density helps local families and entrepreneurs to
organically build the housing our local people need (much of it small and
affordable), reducing reliance on taxpayer subsidized, expensive to maintain
"affordable" sprawl on the edge of town, which isolates low-income residents
far from jobs and services.
Bill 123 to allow ADUs by right is glow -hanging fruit that the County should
certainly pick. The basic concept is sound, even if at is only a small step and
there are many restrictions and complications. The bill is useful, but the
tissues need to be pointed out and then addressed to accomplish its goals
and avoid socially inequitable results. My remarks here are primarily
addressed at Hilo, the central portion of which is the main area on the east
side of the island that will be able to take advantage of the bill. Most of the
rest of the east side lacks the critical public or private sewage disposal
system and any chance to obtain the State department of health approval
required under the bill. I will leave it to west side residents to comment on
Kona and Kohala.
First, the retention of off-street parking requirements and standard setbacks
is troubling and out of keeping with modern zoning reform. The lots in the
central part of Hilo are generally small, sometimes oddly shaped, and being
older, are often nonconforming in terms of structures and setbacks. My
review indicates that nearly every city and county America that has loosened
up ADU restrictions to gain housing has lightened upon parking restrictions
and standard setbacks, because retaining them essentially defeats the
purpose of allowing ADUs in the first place. If we don't address this, we will be
inadvertently preventing ADUs on many lots. 8 would request that the Council
work with the Planning Department and its GIS system to conduct some
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sample neighborhood evaluations on a lot -by -lot basis of how retaining these
proposed restrictions will affect eliminate the possibility of lots being eligible
for an ADU, and how best to adjust any restrictions the Council desires to
retain. Please bear in mind that even where putting new parking and enforcing
large setbacks is spatially feasible, it would impose large costs on
homeowners and ADU builders and sacrifice valuable space for housing for
unnecessary parking and setback space.
Most problematic is the requirement to have a public or private sewage
system and DOH approval. Although we must conform with State regulations,
it means that the current area where ADUs would be eligible in Hilo is
restricted to perhaps the central quarter of the town. Lots here tend to be
smaller, and values are often lower than houses in upper Waiakea. The
sewered area m the only residents who pay to protect Hilo Bay water quality
through their wastewater fees —also corresponds to the poorest census
tracts in Hilo.
Sewer mains (in red) High poverty area (in dark brown)
So, while I urge the Council to pass the bill, please consider:
• Eliminating or vastly curtailing parking requirements
• Reducing setback requirements
• Demonstrating a renewed commitment to expanding Hilo's sewer lines
to expand the potential areas eligible for ADUs and make the protection
of water quality more equitable, in keeping with environmental equity
Furthermore, while ADUs by right are a positive step forward, even greater
densities need to be considered to truly make a dent in both housing needs
and County fiscal sustainability vis-a-vis infrastructure maintenance costs.
Thank you for consideration of my testimony.
Ron Terry, Hilo resident