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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1773.000 1984-1988 /It MEMORANDUM: PLANNING DEPARTMENT — County of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 To: Council Members EgWtember 7, 1988 From: Planning Director Subject: Resort Housing Conditions for Bills Nos. 607 and 60.8. This is in response to a request made at the August 16, 1988 Planning Committee meeting, and is submitted as part of the Council' s record for Bills Nos . 607 and 608. We have consulted with the Office of Housing and Community Development, and have drafted the following statement : "If an affordable housing demand or need does not exist at the time a particular phase of a resort is ready to be developed, then it may be appropriate that the requirement be deferred and the phase of resort development allowed to be developed. The Housing Agency would review and approve the method of satisfying the housing requirement prior to final plan approval for each phase of development. " With respect to the policy basis for the proposed resort housing conditions, we have attached excerpts from the County' s General Plan of relevant statements, goals , policies, standards and courses of action. AFRO D LAIL comm. No, / 773 rtr File No. 279 1D Ref. Tot f^ Ref. Date SEP 7 tr,lla EXCE. iS FROM THE COUNTY 'S GENER PLAN RELEVANT TO THE RESORT HOUSING CONDITIONS PROPOSED FOR BILLS Nos. 607 and 608 a) One of the General Plan' s standards for a resort states : Employee housing shall be provided at a maximum ratio of one employee unit to every two hotel units built. The required ratio shall be determined by an analysis of housing needs of each district and relative area. b) The Housing Element of the General Plan states, in part: o . many people cannot afford housing in today' s market. The rising costs of land, land improvements , and construction discourage many low and moderate income families from purchasing a home. Personal income will not rise commensurate with rising costs of land and construction of housing units. Inappropriate location of various housing types also contributes to the difficulties in providing adequate public services which are essential for a desirable living environment. o The basic purpose of the housing element is to minimize housing problems and maximize housing opportunities for residents in the County of Hawaii. o Although efforts are being made by government to provide low and moderate income housing, construction still lags behind replacement and growth needs. Government, however, will continue to play an important role in providing housing for low and moderate income families. o The growth of the visitor industry is also generating an increasing demand for low and moderate income housing for employees, precisely the type which private industries are not building in substantial amounts. With the growth of visitor and other industries , new housing units will be needed to accommodate an increase in population. This additional population growth will compete with the existing population for new housing . Therefore, growth also becomes a problem in respect to this housing element. c) The Housing Element' s goals in the General Plan include: o To attain diversity of socio-economic housing mix throughout the different parts of the County. o Maintain a housing supply which allows a variety of choice. -1- I d) The Housing Element' s policies in the General Plan include: o It shall be the policy of the County of Hawaii to assure that safe, sanitary, and livable housing is available to persons of all ages , income and ethnic groups and to provide a variety of choice as to location and types . o A volume of construction and rehabilitation of housing sufficient to meet growth needs and correct existing deficiencies shall be promoted. o The construction of specially designed facilities for elderly persons needing institutional care and for active elderly persons shall be encouraged. o Corporations and non-profit organizations shall be encouraged to participate in Federal programs to provide new and rehabilitated housing for low and moderate income households and the elderly. o Public and private programs intended to increase the supply of housing and to create a variety of choice shall be encouraged. o Large industries which create a demand for housing shall provide employee housing based upon a ratio to be determined by an analysis of the locality' s needs. e) The General Plan' s Housing Element includes the following courses of action for the North Kona district: o The County shall require developments which create a demand for employee housing to provide for that need. o Aid and encourage the development of a wide variety of housing for this area to attain a diversity of housing mix. f) The multiple-family residential section of the General Plan' s Land Use Element includes the following statements: o Multiple residential living is becoming a way of life for many people. Such units provide housing for persons who have no desire or need to own a single-family residence, persons who find it financially difficult to own a single-family residence, persons with changing employment and others . This trend will continue in the future due to rapid urban growth, mobile populations and the rising costs of land and improvements. -2- M o Multiple residential living has not been well accepted in the past, mainly because of the unimaginative and stereotyped design of buildings, social attitudes and the desire for single-family ownership. The costs of land and construction, however, have greatly risen, thus making it difficult for many people to afford a home. o The County will be faced with a great demand for multiple residential development. A carefully worked out land use plan and development standards will be essential in assuring that any development will be an asset to the County. g) The multiple-family residential section of the General Plan' s Land Use Element sets forth the following goal: o To provide for multiple residential developments that maximize convenience for its occupants. h) The multiple-family residential section of the General Plan' s Land Use Element includes the following policies : o Appropriately zoned lands shall be allocated as the demand for multiple residential dwellings increases. These areas shall be allocated with respect to places of employment, shopping facilities, educational, recreational and cultural facilities , and public facilities and utilities. o To assure the use of multiple residential zoned areas and to curb speculation and resale of undeveloped lots only, the County shall impose incremental and conditional zoning which shall be based on performance requirements . i) The multiple-family residential section of the General Plan' s Land Use Element sets forth the following course of action for the Kona district : o Appropriately zoned lands shall be allocated as the need for multiple residential development arises. -3-