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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0480.001 2000-2002 2405 Kalanianaole Ave Hilo. `~96~3?~0 P' , April 16, 2002 Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd r`~~_..:, Planning Committee Chair County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Chairperson Leithead-Todd: The Board of the Hale Kahakai Condominium Association unanimously endorses the passage of ~ropo~~~ dill ~To. 15'7 to #~8a~'i ta.ol~ I)i~i~io~ ~ o~ G~a~,pt~r ~5 (~osiin~ Co~~) of tks~ ~~~~ii Co~x~tg~ ~od~ 19~~ (1~~5 ~~ition) nd r~l~ti~~ to x3oaiCOra~o~ng The Hale Kahakai Association of Apartment Owners represents 58 families who live at the Hale Kahakai condominium. We love this area and our homes. Tae are requesting the legal right to rebuild our home if it is substantially damaged. We would be distressed both emotionally and financially if were forced to move because we were not allowed to repair our building. Lyle have many seniors who have lived at Hale Kahakai for many years. They have put their life savings into their homes that they now enjoy in their retirement years. For most, this investment represents a large part of their net worth. They plan on staying here as long as possible, but sooner or later the need to sell arises. The current zoning code limiting rebuilding now threatens their nest egg. We have seen sales fall through because potential buyers were refused a mortgage by their bank due to this ordinance. t~}e have seen buyers scared away. And we have seen bid prices lowered because of this code limitation. In short, the current prohibition on rebuilding is affecting our property values and our ability to sell our homes. This situation is not only bad for us. It is bad for the County, since it leads to a decline in property values, and thus, shrinking property tax revenues. Our hope is that we will be given back the right to rebuild which was taken from us when our zoning was changed in 1983. 59e only want a just solution. 2~lahalo nui loa for considering our plea,, Comte. I~do• file I've.. _ ~ Ref. ~o• We are grateful to Councilman Aaron Chung for his initiation of this amendment. This has been a major concern of our Association for three years. Much appreciation goes to Councilman Chung's listening to all his constituency, his follow through, and coming up with a community-based solution which is acceptable to all. Attached is a copy of a oral testimony letter submitted to the County of Hawaii Rezoning General Plan Planning Department on September 18, 2000, stating our 58 owners' reasons for supporting the proposed amendment. Me ke aloha pumehana, G~ ~~c%'v,~ ~ , ? 2 v v Gary Rizzo President, Hale Kahakai Association of Owners Cc Councilman Aaron Chung September 18, 2000 To: County of Hawaii Rezoning General Plan Planning I2epartment Eroin: Gary Rizzo, Hale Kahakai l~aard President Re: Hale Kahakai Condominium TNIK: 3/2-1-19-14 Current zoning of Dale I~ahakai prevents us from. rebuilding our homes in the event our building sutlers over 50% da~auge. The option to rebuild Hale K.ahakni was taken away from. us se~yeral years ago, when our zoning was changed from ynedium density to low density zoning, Even so, many subsequent buyers and current owners in our condominium were not aware of this rebuilding restriction when they bought their units. Some of them would not have purchased their unit, or would have offercd the seller a smaller amount, had they known about this restriction. As a result of this rebuilding restriction, our property values are lower because new buyers, as well as, mortgage lenders see thi.~ lin~aitation as a negative. Also, if the building was ever destroyed, we would not only lose our homes, but we would also have to move, because we are not now allowed to rebuild. ~Ve are here this evening only to ask to be able to replace what we already have, nothing more, if more than 50% of our building is destroyed. This is not a ploy to expand the size of our building. I am here now asking in behalf of 58 homeowners in Dale Kahakai that you consider returning our right to rebuild our honses in the event they sustain more than 50°/® darnagc to our building. If we can accomplish this with a variance or a special grandfathering clause rather tban changing our zoning back to what it was originally, that's okay too. 9Ve have no vested interest in the means. Gur only goal is to be able to rebuild. Thank you for listening to the concerns of the 58 owners of Hale Kahakai. Gary Rizzo President Hale K.ahakai Association of Owners.