Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 691 Draft 01 2022-2024A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAI‘I HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE PLANNING DIRECTOR TO APPROVE THE KA LEI MOMI LANAKILA HOMES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, LOCATED ON AN 8.65-ACRE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP KEY NO. (3) 2-4-028:007 IN HILO, HAWAIʻI, SUBJECT TO THE NINTH PROCLAMATION RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI. WHEREAS, the County and State of Hawai‘i are in a housing crisis; and WHEREAS, housing is the single biggest household expense in Hawai‘i, making up thirty-eight percent (38%) of household spending for local families; and WHEREAS, the increasing cost of housing places our communities at greater risk of poverty, with one quarter of our residents at risk of becoming homeless; and WHEREAS, access to affordable housing contributes to better health, childhood development, and education achievement, which are essential to the security, well-being, and prosperity of our communities; and WHEREAS, some of the barriers to developing housing are the lengthy zoning and permitting processes, lack of infrastructure, outdated development plans, high cost of land and building materials, and need for more affordable financing sources for both developers and buyers; and WHEREAS, the severity of the housing shortage in Hawai‘i requires that the State, in addition to long-range plans, develop solutions that can be implemented in the short-term; and WHEREAS, to date, the Governor has issued nine emergency proclamations relating to affordable housing in an effort to remove barriers to housing development and ease the State’s housing shortage; and WHEREAS, the most recent emergency proclamation, issued on October 10th, 2024, suspends Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, section 201H-38(a)(3), and allows the county planning director to approve, modify, or reject a proposed housing development, provided that the project has been approved by the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation under chapter 201H, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes; and WHEREAS, the Ka Lei Momi Lanakila Homes Affordable Housing Project housing site is an 8.65-acre portion of the property identified by Tax Map Key No. (3) 2-4-028:007, which is vacant land adjacent to an existing public housing development situated in Hilo; and WHEREAS, the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority is proposing to construct twenty-two two-story buildings on the site and provide 258 new housing units, all of which, except the manager’s unit, will be affordable to households earning sixty percent (60%) or less of the area median income; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that this body hereby urges the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Planning Director to approve the Ka Lei Momi Lanakila Homes Affordable Housing Project with the requested zoning and fee exemptions contained within its application in accordance with chapter 201H, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, and the Governor’s Ninth Proclamation relating to affordable housing. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Joshua B. Green, M.D., Governor of the State of Hawai‘i; the Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi, President of the Hawai‘i Senate; the Honorable Speaker of the Hawai‘i House of Representatives; the Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Zendo T. Kern, Planning Director; and Susan K. Kunz, Housing Administrator; and Gary A. Mackler, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___. INTRODUCED BY: _______________________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai‘i Hilo, Hawai‘i ROLL CALL VOTE    AYES NOES ABS EX   EVANS       GALIMBA       I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________. INABA       KAGIWADA       KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER       KIERKIEWICZ      ATTEST: KIMBALL       LEE LOY       VILLEGAS              Reference:   COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.