HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0128.017 2010-2012 OJMZYfOF
William P.Kenoi o•' \Jd1�' BJ Leithead Todd•
Mayor t„�yf Director
' Margaret Masunaga
•�j i HMO'�i'\\.
E oFN..!- Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Phone(808)961-8288 • Fax(808)961-8742
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August 10, 2011
cry
Honorable Dominic Yagong, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii 4
25 Aupuni Street p.■'
Hilo, HI 96720
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Dear Chair Yagong and Members of the County Council:
SUBJECT: Support for a proposal for an adjustment of building code requirements
The Puna CDP Action Committee supports an initiative proposed by the Hawai`i Sustainable
Community Alliance that would adjust building code requirements for certain owner-builder
applicants. We understand the initiative would promote reasonable and affordable structural and
design standards, but would enable use of materials and procedures that might help to reduce costs, and
thus render some home site and home improvement projects more affordable.
Such a result might enable a higher proportion of home ownership and occupancy among citizens who
earn modest incomes, and this would be a desirable consequence for the community at large.
Indeed, the initiative recognizes the indigenous creativity among select owner-builders that might
simulate design outcomes that are of benefit to all.
The initiative clearly identifies the risks of degrading health, safety, and general welfare if building
codes were to be carelessly relaxed, and there is terminology in the initiative that would mitigate such
risk.
Moreover, we find this initiative to be consistent with the spirit of the Puna CDP, particularly in
Chapter 3, several sections, which indicate a need to improve housing and self-help situations for
persons of modest means, and particularly to enable changes in local rules for building and occupancy.
Comm. No. ) �`'O . 17
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Ref, To: £!AilW.Cou,4j
P.'•■. ��• AUG J' 2Dn
Honorable Dominic Yagong, Council Chair
Hawai`i County Council
August 10, 2011
Page 2
We convey to you our support for the Hawaii sustainable Community Alliance initiative, known as a
Hawaii County Sustainable Habitat Policy.
Respectfully,
Dan Taylor, Chair
xc: BJ Leithead Todd, Planning Director
Warren Lee, Public Works Director