HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0677.046 2022-2024HOUSING
HAWAITS
FUTURE
September 17, 2024
TO: Council Chair Kimball and members of the Hawaii County Council
RE: Bill 123 — RELATING TO OHANA DWELLING UNITS
Housing Hawai'i's
P/ cowc,I
n1l
HH,
Future
PO Box 3043
Honolulu, HI 96802-3043
My name is Sterling Higa, and I serve as executive director of Housing HawaiTs Future, a nonprofit
creating opportunities for Hawai'i's next generation by ending the workforce housing shortage.
We support Bill 123 — RELATING TO OHANA DWELLING UNITS.
With Bill 123, the Hawai'i County Council has the opportunity to become the state leader in allowing
gentle density.
There are three options for building the housing we need: out, up, or in. Out means developing suburbs
on the fringe of the city. Up means increasing density. And in means developing infiLL
Bill 123 makes better use of our limited land to add gentle density in the form of accessory dwelling
units. This will help reduce sprawl as West Hawaii develops while also allowing for the incremental
addition of housing in communities like Hilo.
It's the kind of policy that's a slamdunk for local families that want to build housing so their children and
grandchildren can afford to stay.
We hope that you will support housing for future generations and pass Bill 123.
Thank you,
Sterling Higa
Executive Director
Housing Hawai'i's Future
+1 (808) 782-7868
hawaiisfuture.org
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