HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0632.006 2000-2002 Dan and Ann Idor~debassh
75633 Hale~aali Place
Kaalada K®na, ill 96740
Phone: (808) 326
2025 emnail: ea~yba~aloha,net'
April 5th, 2002
Planning Commission ~
County of Hawaii _
Sirs:
~x
This is a follow up to our previous letter of February 24t° and oral testimony regarding
Condominium Property Regimes (CPRs)
I,et us reiterate again the various realtor organizations do not, nor does any realtor, speak for the
majority of residents in West Hawaii. When their rationale as previously presented orally in
Kona includes CPR's are useful for divorced couples to share a property, you know their true
purpose is to keep the market for real estate sales as large as possible to line their pockets.
This seems strange to us since if we were top-drawer brokers we couldn't care less about the
marginal producers. We would be more concerned about maintaining the character of the island
where we live. And if our sales relied on lower to median sized properties, inherently part of the
CPR environment, we would think a "smart planning" development with higher density
properties would provide the larger market we seek.
This last point which attacks the "supply" side of lower and medium cost properties is one we
failed to emphasize in previous written testimony.
As we previously described new planning on the mainland, utilizing smart growth is more town-
centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and
retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities. Due to it's
European nature, higher densities exist, and with them lower cost, and medium cost housing that
will satisfy the "demand" side the excessive use of CPR's are attempting to provide.
Such planning includes the establishment of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR's) which
owners of ag properties could sell to larger developers that wish to build higher density villages
or towns along modern lines. Such transfers permit the Planning Commission to steer
development with infrastructure where it should go to maintain our island environment. We
strongly urge you to again study the previous written testimony submitted on this subject.
This will be a long process.l3ut a start must be made. The first step is stopping current excesses.
We again strongly urge the Commission to support Mr. Yuen's proposal for ending CPR's.
Cordially,
Dan and Ann Roudebush E'i~e No.
ite`. To' _
lief. Late ~u~i ~ ~