HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-15 Letter to Clarence Nishihara & Mike Gabbard re HB 2 HD 2 Relating to Agriculture `y, .�'• Wil Okabe
' . , r Managing Director
Harry Kim : *:��"I• �•.3
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
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County of!tartan
Minn of the AFtnor
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March 15, 2017
Senator Clarence K Nishihara, Chair
Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental,
and Military Affairs
Hawaii State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
Hawaii State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chairs Nishihara, Gabbard and members:
RE: HE 2 HD 2
Relating to Agriculture
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of HB 2, HD2.
The problem of unaffordable housing calls for creative thinking, and therefore I
must thank Representative Evans for presenting the idea of"tiny homes," and thank this
committee for giving the idea a hearing.
I want to assure this Committee that we will be considering all options, including
tiny homes that might help with our housing crisis. We are looking for solutions, and I
have directed my departments to do everything in their power to figure out how to bring
down the cost of housing. HB2 might be a valuable new tool in our toolbox.
Rather than overriding county ordinances in earlier drafts, HD2 seems to
eliminate any State barrier to tiny homes. As such, we welcome it.
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Nishihara/Gabbard
March 15, 2017
Page 2
One concern I would raise is that legislation usually must have the semblance of
statewide significance, and I don't know if applicability to "a county with a population
of more than 180,000 but less than 250,000" passes that test. But if your attorneys
have cleared that language, then please approve HB2, HD2.
Res ctfully submitted
itnn
Harry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.