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http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2018...roductive/
Because so much of Hawaii Island geography is designated as lava zones 1 and 2, it doesn't make sense to bar construction there, said Mayor Harry Kim on Tuesday.
...
"These are our bedroom communities. A lot of people purchase there because they want to live there, but a lot of people live there because that’s the only place they can afford,"
If these are legitimate "communities" where people actually live, perhaps County could provide them with some services?
O'Hara said her district needs something more concrete than "just nice imagery of walkable towns."
"Recovery isn't just about housing. It's also about rebuilding the district," O'Hara said.
It still takes nine to 12 months to get a building permit, she said. The district needs economic development measures such as lava observation platforms or tour buses, she said.
"Needs economic development", what an interesting and innovative new idea. Perhaps we can get an action committee to study the issues and write a report.
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well this is a shocker........."It doesn't make sense to bar construction in lava zone 1" ??????
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and what about the State insurance pool? Will we continue to provide the insurance for those who wish to build in lava zone 1?
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This, from my perspective, only further confirms that we have complete fools leading county government - Harry being the lead fool...
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Linking LZ2 in with LZ1 is the (intentional?) poisoned pill - just too much land in zone 2. Ceasing development in zone 1 however seems more feasible (if there was any real will to pursue)
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This is the latest example of Harry Kim.2 continuing with the eternal, now multi-generational county evasion of the consequences of allowing all those subdivisions to be created in violation of codes and some of them being created in very unwise locations. Don't expect a real solution from Harry or his ilk.
As for Ohara, she makes some very good points, but she has voted for every tax increase and county budget without extracting any measurable new benefit for the district in return. We all know that Puna politicians consistently say they do this because they have to play the big boys' game in hopes of eventually getting something, but that something never seems to come. If we're not going to get anything anyway, wouldn't it be more useful to poke the big boys in the eye like Ruderman and Cindy Evans do on occasion?
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Quicken Loans has now stopped issuing mortgages in lava zone 1 or 2.
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If we're not going to get anything anyway
Check the transcripts for recent inactivity by Planning Commission. Basically, development of any kind is "next to someone's house", and those people show up at the hearing to explain how they don't want the traffic, noise, crime, etc, that the project will bring.
If the answer is always "no, you can't build that", then why do we need a Planning Department?
Along similar lines: people who apply for building permits are basically begging to be allowed to purchase building materials and hire contractors, in hopes of someday paying property taxes and a HELCO bill. A year's delay in issuing permits is a year's delay in economic growth, yet it's somehow impossible to hold the Building Department accountable, even while they all get their raises.
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@ kalakoa begging to be allowed to purchase building materials and hire contractors, in hopes of someday paying property taxes and a HELCO bill.
add to the above "Home Insurance" obtained from the open market for folks who want to build in L1 & L2 & L3 & ect.... NOT State mandated citizen subsidized, "assigned risk" policies...I for 1 see no reason to participate in paying for insurance for other peoples risk taking.
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State mandated citizen subsidized, "assigned risk" policies...
Funny how they'll invest in fake insurance, but not real infrastructure.
