2025-09-03 PL-CCI-2025-000012 Testimony from Jim and Lichun McMahon

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From: Jim and Lichun To: W PCtesti mono Subject: Public Testimony: PL-CCI-2025-000012/Bill 63 0 WPC Sept 4,2025 meeting agenda item#10 Date: Wednesday,September 3, 2025 12:01:48 PM Please accept the following testimony in regards to the Windward Planning Commission meeting agenda item #10 (Sept 4, 2025) - County Council Initiated item PL-CCI-2025- 000012 County Council Bill 63 :- A bill for an ordinance to amend Chapter 25 (Zoning), Article 5 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), relating to dwellings. The Zoning Code does not currently allow for dwellings to be located within the industrial-commercial mixed use (MCX) zoning districts. The purpose of this bill is to allow for dwellings to be established in the MCX zoning district. I can see some challenges associated with this proposed amendment to the allowable uses within the MCX zoned district: 1. An often cited reason justifying the issuance of special use permits in agriculturally zoned areas for both industrial and commercial uses is the lack of nearby suitably zoned parcels. Allowing residential uses within the MCX zones would therefore further reduce the available supply of these parcels for their originally intended purposes. 2. Infrastructure requirements for commercial, industrial, and residential uses are often very different. We shouldn't be developing a higher level of infrastructure typically required for commercial and industrial uses and then essentially down zone it for residential uses. 3. Many of the existing uses allowed in the MCX zones are less than ideal being situated in close proximity to residential dwellings. This would include many light identical uses such as automobile service centers, rental yards, etc. and commercial uses such as bars and nightclubs. Not ideal housing situations by any standard. Thanks and Best Regards Jim McMahon Papa`ikou Jim & Lichun