HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0977.024 2010-2012Gerry L. Rott
75 -136 Kamilo Street
Kailua -Kona, HI 96740
October 20, 2010
To: Hawaii County Council
Subject: Request by Forest City for Zoning & Building Code Modifications
Aloha,
I have been a resident of Kailua -Kona for approximately 35 years and have been in a
Realtor here for approximately 33 of those years. During this time, I have
experienced many of the up and down cycles of real estate and the economy, but
none with the dire consequences of this current downward trend in real estate and
the economy.
A constant over the past 30+ years and I am sure prior to that as well, has been the
need for affordable housing on the Big Island. We have seen the promises of many
administrations, both State and County to help fill this need, but with little success.
I have worked on several development teams through the years from the planning
stages on through the marketing stages. I have seen both the successes and failures
of these projects, especially those that have attempted to provide housing at a price
affordable to the work force and retirees on fixed incomes in Hawaii. Through this,
I know that only those developers that are willing to think "out of the box" using
creative planning techniques have been able to succeed at this. Affordable housing
will and has not been made available through the current zoning and building
regulations that exist on the books today. Only through variances and creative
planning can attractive and affordable housing communities be developed.
Forest City has provided a Master Plan that is "out of the box" and one which I
believe will provide a blend of affordable and market housing in a well planned and
thought out community. In order to create the densities necessary to provide
housing deemed to be affordable and to create a desirable community I strongly feel
the requested variances and modifications are necessary.
Finally it seems that a qualified developer, Forest City, has stepped forward to
develop a Master Planned Community, which would be centered around the
development of affordable housing for the West Hawaii Community. This Developer
has a proven track record in previous developments on the Mainland and on Oahu
and is willing, even in this dismal economy to move forward.
Having studied what Forest City has accomplished in the Stapleton area of
Denver and seen the housing they have provided for the Military on Oahu, I feel
confident in their ability to make their plan a reality.
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I urge the County to move forward with the approval process for the requested
changes and modifications in the zoning, building and permitting process and allow
Forest City to help bring the much needed affordable housing to West Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Gerry L. Rott
gerryrott(d yahoo.com
808 - 937 -1917
Gerry L. Rott
75 -136 Kamilo Street
Kailua -Kona, HI 96740
October 20, 2010
To: Hawaii County Council
Subject: Request by Forest City for Zoning & Building Code Modifications
Aloha,
I have been a resident of Kailua -Kona for approximately 35 years and have been in a
Realtor here for approximately 33 of those years. During this time, I have
experienced many of the up and down cycles of real estate and the economy, but
none with the dire consequences of this current downward trend in real estate and
the economy.
A constant over the past 30+ years and I am sure prior to that as well, has been the
need for affordable housing on the Big Island. We have seen the promises of many
administrations, both State and County to help fill this need, but with little success.
I have worked on several development teams through the years from the planning
stages on through the marketing stages. I have seen both the successes and failures
of these projects, especially those that have attempted to provide housing at a price
affordable to the work force and retirees on fixed incomes in Hawaii. Through this,
I know that only those developers that are willing to think "out of the box" using
creative planning techniques have been able to succeed at this. Affordable housing
will and has not been made available through the current zoning and building
regulations that exist on the books today. Only through variances and creative
planning can attractive and affordable housing communities be developed.
Forest City has provided a Master Plan that is "out of the box" and one which I
believe will provide a blend of affordable and market housing in a well planned and
thought out community. In order to create the densities necessary to provide
housing deemed to be affordable and to create a desirable community I strongly feel
the requested variances and modifications are necessary.
Finally it seems that a qualified developer, Forest City, has stepped forward to
develop a Master Planned Community, which would be centered around the
development of affordable housing for the West Hawaii Community. This Developer
has a proven track record in previous developments on the Mainland and on Oahu
and is willing, even in this dismal economy to move forward.
Having studied what Forest City has accomplished in the Stapleton area of
Denver and seen the housing they have provided for the Military on Oahu, I feel
confident in their ability to make their plan a reality.
I urge the County to move forward with the approval process for the requested
changes and modifications in the zoning, building and permitting process and allow
Forest City to help bring the much needed affordable housing to West Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Gerry L. Rott
gerryrott@yahoo.com
808 - 937 -1917