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Home My WebLink About2024-02-24 PL-REZ-2023-000054 Beth Thoma Robinson, Hawaii Life Support Testimony From: Beth Thoma Robinson,R(B) To: LPCtestimony Cc: Jack Hoyt;Teri Takata; Denni Keyes;Whitney Harvey; Evans.Cynthia F.W. Subject: Public Testimony in Support of HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (PL-REZ-2023- 000054/AMEND REZ 2009-000112) Date: Tuesday,February 27, 2024 9:32:07 AM Attachments: Survey results 82222.odf Aloha Commissioners: I am writing as Secretary of the Affordable Housing Group,a sponsored project of the North Kohala Community Resource Center that was originally formed as a Subcommittee of the 2008 North Kohala Community Development Plan Action Group.We currently have a mailing list of over thirty North Kohala community members who attend our monthly meetings and advocate for affordable housing in our district.At our February meeting the Group discussed and voted to write testimony in support of Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation's application on your agenda for February 29,2024. We STRONGLY SUPPORT the Planning Director's favorable recommendation to amend Condition C(time to secure final subdivision approval)of Change of Zone Ordinance No. 10 101.We also support the Director`s recommendation that the Applicant be granted a 10-year extension rather than the 5-year extension requested.We believe the Applicant will succeed sooner,but feel it is important that Condition C not become an obstacle if unforeseen challenges make the 5-year deadline difficult to meet. Housing was one of the four focus areas chosen for the 2008 NKCDP. Strategy 3.2 is specific to Self-help Housing, and urges the CDP Action Committee to work with HICDC to establish an ongoing self-help housing program for North Kohala.For this reason alone,we would stand in support of HICDC`s application. It has been 15 years since our CDP was adopted and the importance and viability of this strategy has not diminished. In 2022 our Affordable Housing Group members conducted an update of the survey of housing needs that was done by Townscape in 2007 during the writing of the North Kohala CDP.To date we have received over 250 completed questionnaires from Kohala residents.Question#8 asked respondents to rank their preferences among several housing alternatives.A full 80%of respondents in need of housing ranked"Self Help Housing" as their first or second choice,with it being the first choice for over half of those answering the question.This reflects the excellent reputation HICDC has established with the completed phases of the Kumakua Self Help Housing Project. We have shared the results of the survey with the HICDC senior staff as evidence that there is now a qualified buyer pool eager for their next phase to come on line. We urge a favorable vote on this application and are copying our County Council member in hopes of quick approval by the County Council once Leeward Planning Commission approves. Mahalo for your positive consideration. Beth Thoma Robinson on behalf of the North Kohala Affordable Housing Group Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B) Director,Conservation and Legacy Lands HAWAI ' I LIFE bethna hawaiilife.com 808-443-4588 (Direct) 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Suite 2F14, Waikoloa, HI 96738 HAWAI`IISLAND I O`AHU I MAUI I KAUA`I I HAWAIILIFE.COM FOUNDING MEMBER OF FORBES GLOBAL PROPERTIES Homes for Kohala Survey Q1 Where in North Kohala do you live? Hnswered: 241 Skipped: 1 Pololu to Hanaula Kapaau Hawi Puakea to Kohala Estates I don't live in North Kohala 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Pololu to Hanaula 9.96% 24 Kapaau 41.49% 100 Hawi 39.83% 96 Puakea to Kohala Estates 1.66% 4 1 don't live in North Kohala 7.05% 17 TOTAL 241 1/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q2 How many years have you currently lived in North Kohala? Hnswered: 241 Skipped: 1 0-5 years 6-15 years 16 years or more I was born in North Kohala 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES 0-5 years 13.69% 33 6-15 years 17.84% 43 16 years or more 32.37% 78 1 was born in North Kohala 36.10% 87 TOTAL 241 2 / 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q3 Do you rent or own the home you live in? Hnswered: 241 Skipped: 1 Other 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Rent 49.38% 119 Own 29.05% 70 Other 21.58% 52 TOTAL 241 3/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q4 How many people live in your household? Hnswered: 239 Skipped: 3 4/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q5 How many adults live in your household including yourself? Hnswered: 239 Skipped: 3 5/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q6 What is your current monthly rent or mortgage loan payment? ,Answered: 221 Skipped: 21 ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Mortgage: 37.56% Rent: 73.30% 6/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q7 Are you or any other members of your household in need of affordable housing? Answered: 241 Skipped: i You Other household... 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Yes No YES NO TOTAL You 76.72% 23.28% 145 44 189 Other household members 69.86% 30.14% 51 22 73 7/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q8 Using the following descriptions, rank your preference for the type of housing you would be interested in. Check as many as apply Self Help: Qualified... Leasehold or Land Trust:... Fee simple: Buyer purcha... Rental:Rent a house with a... 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 TOTAL SCORE Self Help: Qualified buyers are required to participate in the 48.62% 31.65% 12.39% 7.34% construction of the homes in return for a lower purchase price and 106 69 27 16 218 3.22 more favorable mortgage terms. Leasehold or Land Trust: Buyer only purchases the home but not the 7.14% 24.29% 43.81% 24.76% land, making this a cheaper option. Land is held in trust 15 51 92 52 210 2.14 Fee simple: Buyer purchases the land and the home with the 37.27% 33.18% 18.64% 10.91% assistance of a home mortgage. 82 73 41 24 220 2.97 Rental: Rent a house with a long term lease. 12.32% 10.90% 21.33% 55.45% 26 23 45 117 211 1.80 8/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q9 In the North Kohala community, what age group(s) do you think have the greatest need for affordable housing? Answered: 241 Skipped: i Under 21 years old 22-30 years old 31-40 years old 41-50 years old 51 years or older 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Under 21 years old 8.30% 20 22-30 years old 53.94% 130 31-40 years old 61.83% 149 41-50 years old 19.92% 48 51 years or older 14.11% 34 Total Respondents: 241 9/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q10 For North Kohala, what is the highest price range that you would considerto be "affordable" for a home? Less than $200,000 Now $200,000-$300,0 00 $300,000-$400,0 00 $400,000-$500,0 00 $500,000 or more 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Less than$200,000 23.85% 57 $200,000-$300,000 40.17% 96 $300,000-$400,000 29.71% 71 $400,000-$500,000 4.18% 10 $500,000 or more 2.09% 5 TOTAL 239 10/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q11 What is the highest price range that you would consider to be "affordable"? for a monthly mortgage or rent payment? Answered: 238 Skipped: 4 Less than$500 $500-$1,000 $1,000-$1,500 $1,500-$2,000 $2,000 or more 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% YOU- inclu... M Other hous... YOU-INCLUDING SPOUSE OR PARTNER OTHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS TOTAL Less than$500 57.14% 42.86% 8 6 14 $500-$1,000 84.95% 15.05% 79 14 93 $1,000-$1,500 85.19% 14.81% 92 16 108 $1,500-$2,000 84.44% 15.56% 38 7 45 $2,000 or more 85.71% 14.29% 6 1 7 11 / 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q12 What price house could the person(s) afford to buy? Hnswered: 236 Skipped: 6 Less than $150,000 $150,000 to $200,000 $200,000 to $250,000 $250,000 to $300,000 $300,000 to $350,000 $350,000 to $400,000 ■ $400,000 or more 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% You- includi... Other hous... 12 / 15 Homes for Kohala Survey YOU-INCLUDING SPOUSE OR PARTNER OTHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS TOTAL Less than$150,000 69.57% 30.43% 32 14 46 $150,000 to$200,000 80.00% 20.00% 36 9 45 $200,000 to$250,000 92.86% 7.14% 39 3 42 $250,000 to$300,000 73.17% 26.83% 30 11 41 $300,000 to$350,000 77.08% 22.92% 37 11 48 $350,000 to$400,000 92.31% 7.69% 24 2 26 $400,000 or more 90.91% 9.09% 20 2 22 13 / 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q13 Developers of affordable housing projects are often required to offer percentages of their homes to buyers at different income levels. Here are the current levels of income for a four person family. Please check which level best applies to you and your family ,swered: 237 Skipped: Up to$55,000 per year From$56,000 to$70,000 From$71,000 to$90,000 From$91,000 to$120,000 $121,000 and above 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Up to$55,000 per year 48.52% 115 From $56,000 to$70,000 24.89% 59 From $71,000 to$90,000 10.13% 24 From $91,000 to$120,000 8.02% 19 $121,000 and above 8.44% 20 TOTAL 237 14/ 15 Homes for Kohala Survey Q14 Please share with us any other thoughts you may have on affordable housing needs in North Kohala and how you feel these needs could be met. Skipped: 125 15 / 15