HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-27 Letter to Clarence K. Nishihara, Glenn Wakai, Stanley Chang and Dru Mamo Kanuha SB 2172, Relating to Housing Development (2)
County of Hawai‘i
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Roy Takemoto
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
January 27, 2020
Senator Clarence K. Nishihara, Chair
Senator Glenn Wakai, Vice Chair
Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs
Senator Stanley Chang, Chair
Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha, Vice Chair
Committee on Housing
Dear Chairs Nishihara and Chang, Vice Chairs Wakai and Kanuha, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 2172, Relating to Housing Development
Every elected official that I know of wants to increase our stock of affordable housing, and one
way to do that is to make it easier for housing projects, developed by the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance
and Development Corporation, to move expeditiously when they have proposals in the pipeline. SB
2172 would result in significant streamlining of permit approvals for affordable housing projects, and I
urge you to give this bill a favorable vote.
I would suggest that the language amending 201H-38 (3) (B) might be improved by making
explicit that the County Councils have the authority to approve a district boundary amendment for 15
acre parcels or less. As currently worded, 201H-38 (3) (B) seems to require that the amendment be
approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR