HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0176.091 2006-2008 , ! AIL .n.
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Cooper & Cooper
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June 1, 2007
Chairman and Members of the Council
County of Hawaii
State of Hawaii
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Bill No., 51, and ordinance amending Chapter 27 of the Hawaii County
Code 1983 (2005) pertaining t o Flood Control and Storm Water
Management
Aloha,
I am Pete Cooper, immediate past president of the Hawaii Developers Council. We
applaud the councils desire to reduce damage caused by flooding. However, due to
the multiple and varied amendments to the proposed bill, we strongly recommend
this Bill not be passed until community groups have had adequate time to review
this bill for unintended consequences.
Examples of unintended consequences include the following:
Bank of Hawaii (Vince Barnfield -Vice President) sent me an email earlier this
week indicating that should this bill be passed, they anticipate that over
$250,000,000.00 in current loans (development and agriculture) would become
exposed to defaults in this county due to this Bill transforming lots currently used as
collateral into nonconforming lots, in regards to grades and storm water retention.
We anticipate this bill will not only cause farmers to default on land loans, but also
Comm. No.
to fail in their business. Ref. To: ~~.ran •
Ref. Date _ _NIN 13007
We are concerned that the current property tax structure will need to be completely
amended to recognize the difference between fully zoned property that realistically
can be farmed or developed, and fully zoned property that, due to the impact of this
HONOLULU OFFICE:1124 Fort Street Mall .Suite 204 • Honolulu, Hawaii 98813.0 808-587-8020 C 808.398.4782 • e-mail: PeteCooper@cooperandcooper.biz
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bill, can no longer be farmed or developed. We anticipate a very strong resistance
from land owners and farmers to pay property tax on land that essentially becomes
downzoned and unusable.
We anticipate a reduction in property tax on properties that have, in effect, been
downxoned, with the result that there will be less money available to the county for
the infrastructure that is so desperately needed.
Furthermore, it is our belief that the total impact of the proposed amendment
requires further in depth scrutiny to establish the impact the amendment would
have on the following industries:
1. farming
2. banking
3. architecture/engineering
4. construction
5. county workers
6. landscaping
7. building supply
8. shipping
9. equipment leasing
We would like to see the focus on enforcement of existing laws regarding illegal
grading, noncompliance with best management practices and irresponsible building
within flood plains as the methodology of minimizing flood damage.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony
~ C~
HONOLULU OFFICE:1124 Fort Street Mall • Suite 204 • Honolulu, Hawaii 98813. 0 808-587-8020 C 808.398.4782 • e-mail: PeteCooper@cooperandcooper.biz