2024-02-24 PL-REZ-2023-000054 Beth Thoma Robinson, Hawaii Life Support Testimony

Home

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