HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0463.001 2004-2006 Pagc 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Bob Ward [rgward007@hawaii.rccom]
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 10:17 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Hoffmann, Pete; Pilago, K. Angel; Isbell, Virginia
Subject: Bill 156 -Planning Committee
l am offering the following written testimony for Bill 156.
1 strongly support housing that is affordable to those that actually need it. However, I
have offered suggestions that I believe would enhance development of affordable
housing that is sustainable.
Robert Ward
Comm. No. T ~ 3 'I
Ref. To:P
Ref. [)ate (1~ 1
7
10/17/2005
fi~~TIIVI®IVY _ Manning Committee: dill 156
I~repared by:
l~obert @n0ard
77Rty526 Do'olaupa'i ~t
Kail~aa Kona, ill 9670
Thank you for the opportunity to share my concerns.
fibs demand for housing that is affordable to these that need it most
tra€~scends the requirement limited to residential developments. I support
the effort to provide adsiitional .affordable hos~sing in connection with
industrial and commercial development.
However, the proposed ordinance rvaay not go far enough. l~lost commercial
or industria! construction proposals are based on the area of the facilities.
fibs ultimate tenant: may be speculative, and the subsequent owners
unkr$-own. Conset~a~~ntly the level of ernploymont is Nicely to varry, and will
most certainly be diff$cui# to measure and burdensome to verify.
The size of the construction, however, is rather precise. "T'he square footage
is easy to ascertain end can be c~nfirrned through existing procedures and
databases within tie building permit and property tax systems.
A Comprehensive Impact fee (Cl~) ordinance that would assure that
afford-able housing is addressed by any new construction would be the
most efficient way to resolve the shortage of housing that not only falls
within the range of affordability, but is actually located where it is needed
and has a chance of remaining as affordable housing.
T'he County is already in the process of consolidating Community
~evelopmer~t lPlans and l•iousing; flans. ~fhis is an opportune time to
structure a Clla that incorporates<a funding mechanism through fees (or, "in
lieu of construction") collected floor all new construction and strictly
applies them to a detailed County ,affordable Dousing flan. fihis would
assure that the: correct types and sizes of housing are provided €n the
locations where they are actually needed rather being subJect to random
chance and the whirrs of developers.
~ CIS can address al! areas of services and infrastructure provided by the
government at all levels. each element would have a strictly allocated fee
and a detailed plan for implerner~tation.
Thank you for your time and your consideration. I aneould be happy to
answer any questions or discuss the matter farther.