HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0597.002 1996-1998 ,CC&I Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii
December 2,1997 e F ~
r ~ in
County Council
The Honorable Council Chairman James Y. Arakaki
and Members of the Hawaii County Councfl
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
SUBJECT: TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF JAPANESE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 171
RELATING TO THE COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
POLICY
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members:
On behalf ofthe Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii (JCC&I), I'm
pleased to convey support for Bill 171 relating to the County Affordable Policy. The
JCC&I has consistently advocated for the elimination ofthe 60% affordable housing
requirement on residential developments as in unnecessary government regulation that has
adversely impacted housing and the real estate on our Island. Although Bill 171 does not
eliminate the affordable housing requirement altogether, the reduction of this onerous
requirement upon residential developrgent can only help to lighten the burden upon our
real estate market and thereby allow the supply ofhousing to increase in response the
market demand.
Bill 171 also provides a mechanism by which the requirement for employee housing placed
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upon resort and industrial uses will be based a~~ the actual need for such Lousing. We
support This approach wlrioh would eliorinate au additional and unnecessary cost to
development at times when the need for additional employee Lousuig is not present.
On bchalCof the JCCRcI, we commend the County Council for its elTorts io reviewing the
carrcnt aII'i~rdable housing policy and we eneonrage your continued elTorts to elliuiuate
those redundant m' uu~~acessary policies and a'egulatious which only serve to restrict our
Islam economy.
Sincere'ly,'
THOMAS GOYA, PRESIllENT
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Lrdusiry oCllawaii