HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0598.010 2006-2008 My name is Brian Nishimura and I am a private planning consultant here in Hilo. I am
here to testify on Bill 151 relating to floodways to urge you to move with caution before
implementing changes to the flooding and drainage requirements that will have
significant cost implications with uncertain benefits in terms of flood protection for lives
and property.
The Council is faced with many issues and it is difficult to balance the objectives of
numerous initiatives that come before you on a daily basis. Flood protection and
affordable housing are two prominent issues that have worthy public objectives and there
is little disagreement that we need to address them. In doing so, however, it is important
to keep in mind that the pursuit of improvements in one arena will have negative impacts
on another.
As a consultant that has worked with two housing non-profits for the past fifteen years, I
have participated in the uphill battle to provide affordable housing units for low and
moderate income families. Every affordable housing project has relied on governmental
subsidies and these dollars are scarce re~urces that need to be utilized in the most
efficient maffier possible. It would be a shame to have these scarce resources utilized to
comply with requirements that would have little or no effect on the low and moderate
income families being served.
I am not an engineer and will leave the technical arguments regarding the proposed
changes for them to make. I do know that the vast majority of projects that have
complied with the current requirements have not encountered flood damage even during
the most severe stones we have encountered during the past thirty Years. Yes, there are
examples of severe flood damage that has occurnxi but we need to examine the cause of
these problems as they relate to those specific situations. We new to take the time to
address the drainage issues in a way that is sensible and effective for site specific
situations rather than have blanket requirements for all when the cost of those
requirements will not be reflected in improved protection for all.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide these commerns.
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