HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0632.003 2014-2016 19)&k-e-v-
TESTIMONY
RILu� Hawaii County Council
ILLRGE Bill 136 West Hawaii Micro Housing C
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Kailua Village Business Improvement District continues to meet with
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the County of Hawaii regarding its plans to construct micro housing --
units to shelter another 40 people adjacent to the Friendly Place day
shelter and the existing 31-unit Emergency Shelter off Pawai Place in — -'
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Kona's Old Industrial Area.
Our concerns also continue in three primary areas:
• The service plan for those people who are the most vulnerable
including those with significant mental health and substance
abuse issues. Will this facility house those who are presently
living on the streets throughout Kailua Village?
• Whether this proposed project is an effective long term solution.
We suggest the planned micro housing units be temporary with
a 2 – 3 year timeline in this location while longer term solutions
can be developed.
• This proposed location is inappropriate for the addition of
non-conforming residential use within a busy light industrial
corridor without mitigation of project impacts including
pedestrian and vehicular access, safety, lighting and roadway
improvements. The $650,000 budget does not allow for any
mitigation, yet these same concerns that were voiced years ago
after the existing shelters opened have remain unaddressed. It
was encouraging to be informed that the County is using its
Department of Public Works crews for building foundation
preparation, in order to control construction costs. Possibly
these same work crews can install the appropriate curb, gutter,
sidewalk and lighting improvements that this non conforming
residential use necessitate.
KVBID encourages County Administration and the Housing Agency to
continue discussion with the Kona community and its stakeholders on
safer, longer term solutions.
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