We need more housing on Lanai even just for rent. Pulama is doing a good thing until the County can get it's project through for Lanai residents to purchase a home. Please also support this project for our community.
From: Pat Reilly Lana'i (not sure if this went through)
To: Affordable Housing Committee
Maui County Council
Re: HOKUAU 201 H AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT LANA’I
Position: SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
1) While my disappointment with HOKUAU remains that no units are for sale at affordable rates, if I were an elected official responsible for spending taxpayer monies I would approve the project with modifications as permitted by law.
2) Taxpayers will be provided 150 rental units, 76 at affordable rates with no cost to the taxpayer other than some fee losses and some County obligations through County-provided services. Seventy-six affordable units at no cost to the County will assist the County in reaching the suggestions of the recent housing study.
3) However, the County will now bear the burden through the Lana’i County Affordable Housing Project to support residents needing to purchase homes at affordable rates.
a) At least one of the testifiers on August 2, 2021 were County employees living with their parents who are also County employees. The County has been planning a project for many years. I recognize funding is an issue, however, younger County employees have been waiting for years.
b) In addition, other State, Federal, County, non-profit, private business and healthcare employees who serve our community daily are seeking to make Lana’i their home and need affordable housing for purchase.
4) Comments regarding requested exemptions:
a) P.126, #2: Trees and landscaping:
i) Cook Pines: Over time the roots encroach on roads and sidewalks requiring constant repair or no repair.
ii) The trees drop large branches and pine cones. Over time they become a danger to structures. I suggest keeping them far from structures if selected at all.
iii) “False” Kamani Tree is along Fifth Street. This variety drops large seeds on the sidewalk and street, sheds leaves in the Autumn and the roots uplift sidewalks.
iv) Axis Deer: The deer will invade the project leaving scat and voraciously eating plants and shrubbery. Particularly during the current drought, deer are throughout Lanai City nightly.
b) P129, #4b&e: Right of Way and Pavement Widths; Sidewalks:
i) Americans With Disabilities Act:
(1) Persons with disabilities needing mobility transportation on streets and in units need to be considered.
(a) In the past students attending Lanai School have used motorized wheelchairs or even non-motorized transportation.
(b) Elderly and other adults have these needs. For example, some seniors will use a Maui Economic Opportunity bus with lift transportation. Loading and unloading from the unit should be considered.
(c) Sidewalks should provide an adequate width to accommodate their needs.
(d) A pathway from Hokuau to the County parking near the cafeteria is appropriate for pre-school through high school students and adults for safety.
(e) The County should consider the need for crosswalks across Fraser
Avenue with reflective crossing signs as foot traffic to the rest of the commercial and residential areas will increase.
c) Workforce Housing:
i) Rental Rates: On August 12, 2021 the U. S. Census produced very limited data related to Lana’i. Most data available are those from 2019, before the COVID downturn.
ii) I believe the Housing and Urban Development data currently do not reflect the incomes after June 2020 when 425 Four Seasons and Pulama employees were furloughed or laid-off as described in the WARN letter to the State DLIR in August 2020.
iii) The Area Median Income does not reflect the 29.3% unemployment rate of November 2020 for Lana’i reported by DLIR.
iv) The rates should be reviewed.
v) Provide an independent agent to assist potential applicants to fully understand the legal requirements of all lease agreements, including restrictions, deposits, avenues to resolve disputes, definitions of terms and requirements before approving the project to ensure full transparency.
We need more housing on Lanai even just for rent. Pulama is doing a good thing until the County can get it's project through for Lanai residents to purchase a home. Please also support this project for our community.
From: Pat Reilly Lana'i (not sure if this went through)
To: Affordable Housing Committee
Maui County Council
Re: HOKUAU 201 H AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT LANA’I
Position: SUPPORT WITH MODIFICATIONS
1) While my disappointment with HOKUAU remains that no units are for sale at affordable rates, if I were an elected official responsible for spending taxpayer monies I would approve the project with modifications as permitted by law.
2) Taxpayers will be provided 150 rental units, 76 at affordable rates with no cost to the taxpayer other than some fee losses and some County obligations through County-provided services. Seventy-six affordable units at no cost to the County will assist the County in reaching the suggestions of the recent housing study.
3) However, the County will now bear the burden through the Lana’i County Affordable Housing Project to support residents needing to purchase homes at affordable rates.
a) At least one of the testifiers on August 2, 2021 were County employees living with their parents who are also County employees. The County has been planning a project for many years. I recognize funding is an issue, however, younger County employees have been waiting for years.
b) In addition, other State, Federal, County, non-profit, private business and healthcare employees who serve our community daily are seeking to make Lana’i their home and need affordable housing for purchase.
4) Comments regarding requested exemptions:
a) P.126, #2: Trees and landscaping:
i) Cook Pines: Over time the roots encroach on roads and sidewalks requiring constant repair or no repair.
ii) The trees drop large branches and pine cones. Over time they become a danger to structures. I suggest keeping them far from structures if selected at all.
iii) “False” Kamani Tree is along Fifth Street. This variety drops large seeds on the sidewalk and street, sheds leaves in the Autumn and the roots uplift sidewalks.
iv) Axis Deer: The deer will invade the project leaving scat and voraciously eating plants and shrubbery. Particularly during the current drought, deer are throughout Lanai City nightly.
b) P129, #4b&e: Right of Way and Pavement Widths; Sidewalks:
i) Americans With Disabilities Act:
(1) Persons with disabilities needing mobility transportation on streets and in units need to be considered.
(a) In the past students attending Lanai School have used motorized wheelchairs or even non-motorized transportation.
(b) Elderly and other adults have these needs. For example, some seniors will use a Maui Economic Opportunity bus with lift transportation. Loading and unloading from the unit should be considered.
(c) Sidewalks should provide an adequate width to accommodate their needs.
(d) A pathway from Hokuau to the County parking near the cafeteria is appropriate for pre-school through high school students and adults for safety.
(e) The County should consider the need for crosswalks across Fraser
Avenue with reflective crossing signs as foot traffic to the rest of the commercial and residential areas will increase.
c) Workforce Housing:
i) Rental Rates: On August 12, 2021 the U. S. Census produced very limited data related to Lana’i. Most data available are those from 2019, before the COVID downturn.
ii) I believe the Housing and Urban Development data currently do not reflect the incomes after June 2020 when 425 Four Seasons and Pulama employees were furloughed or laid-off as described in the WARN letter to the State DLIR in August 2020.
iii) The Area Median Income does not reflect the 29.3% unemployment rate of November 2020 for Lana’i reported by DLIR.
iv) The rates should be reviewed.
v) Provide an independent agent to assist potential applicants to fully understand the legal requirements of all lease agreements, including restrictions, deposits, avenues to resolve disputes, definitions of terms and requirements before approving the project to ensure full transparency.
Mahalo for your attention.