HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0953.017 2004-2006
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MAY 9, 0996
Quote from Commissioner Andrew Iwashita
IWASHITA: Thank you. I agree with all the sentiments and feelings Commissioner
Salavea expressed about the need to really address our housing shortage, you know, throughout
the spectrum of all our housing needs. I really think that it's a significant enough problem for .
our community that there is no way that this body or the Council is going to be able to deal with
it in an effective manner that will result in a solution or any where near a solution if we try go
about it in a, I hate to use the word spot zoning, but, you know, basically in this opportunistic
kind of way that these kind of proposals come to this body and to the County Council. What's
really needed is a broadbased community effort to address the housing and all the other needs
that we have in our community in a comprehensive manner, which is a Community Development
Plan. And that really needs to be done; and that's about the only effective way, frankly I can see
that our housing crisis can be addressed. Otherwise, it's really on a helter skelter, well, maybe
this will work or not kind of basis. And we will never, I'll say the word, we'll never resolve it if
we keep doing it this way. And so in my mind that's, the housing shortage is not really the
moving factor to me in addressing whether we should approve this project. And, you know, I
know both applicants relatively at different levels and I really support the intent of what they're
doing or trying to do. But the process as I see it is one with, you know, I would hope that they
would continue on beyond the boundaries of their project and look at the entire Houselots
neighborhood, the entire Hilo community, and also help support the Community Development
Plan process. And in the end, in my mind, by doing so, when we have a real clear picture of
where the development is going to go, then the development dollars will be there. You know,
I'm told and I agree that developers want as clear a line as possible with as minimal number of
approval processes to go through. And if we do a. clear enough, specific enough Community
Development Plan that says this is where the development is going to occur, then it will happen.
The way we have it now, it's just helter skelter; and we will end up with nothing better than LA,
Honolulu, Kihei, if we keep going down this road. I'm part of the process and trying to be a
voice to try and change it; and so as the rest of the body knows here, to be consistent, I will be
voting against this project.
Comm. No.
Ref. To:Pree I
Ref. Date NOV 14 2006