HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0632.002 2000-2002 Clyde ~ Kathleen Willey
P. O. Box 121
Hawi, HI 96719
889-5883
May 14, 2002
Honorable James Y. Arakaki L,,
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street }
1-<ilo, H~~~.ii 9f 720
Re: Bi11220 -Proposed Amendment to Chapter 23 (Subdivision Code) Relating to
Condominium Property Regime.
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members,
We have been following the progress of the above proposed amendments as they made
their way through the Planning Commission process.
We would like to speak in support of the Planning Commission's recommendation:
"The Commission.......recommends that the Council consider amending the ordinance to
provide for CPR's without meeting all subdivision requirements for the following:
Family CPR's for estate planning, additional farm dwellings, ohana dwellings, dwellings
on RS zoned lots in compliance with minimum building site areas, and also providing for
transition periods for the foregoing."
Our support stems from our own circumstances and experiences. We have no connection
with the real estate industry.
Since moving to Hawi from Kauai in 1981 we have seen agricultural property prices
steadily increase to a point beyond the reach of the average middle class worker.
Compounding this problem is the scarcity of all but relatively large parcels.
Over the last 10 years we have seen the benefits of the CPR process in making the dream
of ag land ownership possible for the `less than wealthy', i.e. two parties purchasing land
together, building the two dwellings the County has traditionally allowed (initially via
ohana permits, and in later years through an additional farm dwelling permit), and then
holding title to their prospective portions separately through creation of a CPR .
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We have also seen this process used very effectively (both on ag and RS zoned
properties) by families who have let a son or daughter build an additional dwelling on
their property, and then, for legal reasons, preferred for them to hold title and have their
own mortgage separately from the parents.
The proposed ordinance, as currently drafted, would do away with these beneficial
aspects of CPR's while attempting to eliminate the very real abuses.
I believe the Planning Commissioners have recognized this fact in recommending that
you amend the proposed ordinance in a manner that would still allow for limited,
beneficial application of CPR.
Some possible solutions:
1. CPR's on ag or RS zoned lots be limited to two units. (The abuses cited all
have to do with multiple units and the county has a long tradition of allowing
two dwellings on a lot.}
2. Make provision fora `Family CPR' where a defined family member must hold
title and occupy the unit for a set number of years before the unit could be sold
(other than to another family member).
We realize that it will require extra work on the part of the council to amend the
proposed ordinance, but the effects of your decisions will be far reaching, probably
setting the precedent for many years to come.
In fact our own son, who is attending college in Hawaii and plans to work at North HI
Community Hospital as an X-ray tech upon graduating, will have very limited home and
property purchasing options in this area unless processes such as limited CPR are
available to provide some measure of affordability.
Thank you for your consideration and may God bless you and give you wisdom as you
deal with this difficult issue.
Sincerely,
~
Clyde Willey Kathleen Willey