05-15-2019, 07:14 AM
what is going to be done to help these land owners who can't really live on, build on or sell their properties?
County is organizing a series of "listening sessions" and surveys to "determine the need". This effort will last until the FEMA grant money is exhausted.
New building permits for Leilani are "being evaluated" (read: "on hold" until the above process is complete).
(Whether snark or serious ... end results are the same ...)
I believe County will ultimately do little or nothing about the situation simply because a truly meaningful response would be highly disruptive, and our collective representatives (Senators, Representatives, Mayor and Council) will not risk the necessary political capital, finding various liabilities to use as an excuse.
Example solutions.
1. PONC buys out any/all landowners, lava becomes a County park (ideally affiliated with HVNP somehow) with private inholdings. Replacement infrastructure is a reasonable expense so that people (read: tourists) can visit the park safely.
2. County establishes a VR zoning overlay (using the existing "ag tourism" rules so as not to require State land-use boundary adjustments). Valuation increase makes redevelopment economically both feasible and self-funded. Tourism spending revitalizes Pahoa town.
3. County "downzones" the area: no new building permits will be issued; instead, create permitting system for standalone septic system installation as a prerequisite for habitation. Done correctly, this results in something like Kalapana (but with proper sanitation). Real estate valuations are low, but still collect enough property taxes for minimal County services.
Reality on the ground remains: these are legal parcels which allow a primary dwelling by right. County cannot deny those rights without just compensation. People are allowed to live there, so people will live there, for whatever reason. Have all the shacks on the Kalapana lava flow been red-tagged for non-compliance? No? Why does anyone think Leilani will turn out any differently?
County is organizing a series of "listening sessions" and surveys to "determine the need". This effort will last until the FEMA grant money is exhausted.
New building permits for Leilani are "being evaluated" (read: "on hold" until the above process is complete).
(Whether snark or serious ... end results are the same ...)
I believe County will ultimately do little or nothing about the situation simply because a truly meaningful response would be highly disruptive, and our collective representatives (Senators, Representatives, Mayor and Council) will not risk the necessary political capital, finding various liabilities to use as an excuse.
Example solutions.
1. PONC buys out any/all landowners, lava becomes a County park (ideally affiliated with HVNP somehow) with private inholdings. Replacement infrastructure is a reasonable expense so that people (read: tourists) can visit the park safely.
2. County establishes a VR zoning overlay (using the existing "ag tourism" rules so as not to require State land-use boundary adjustments). Valuation increase makes redevelopment economically both feasible and self-funded. Tourism spending revitalizes Pahoa town.
3. County "downzones" the area: no new building permits will be issued; instead, create permitting system for standalone septic system installation as a prerequisite for habitation. Done correctly, this results in something like Kalapana (but with proper sanitation). Real estate valuations are low, but still collect enough property taxes for minimal County services.
Reality on the ground remains: these are legal parcels which allow a primary dwelling by right. County cannot deny those rights without just compensation. People are allowed to live there, so people will live there, for whatever reason. Have all the shacks on the Kalapana lava flow been red-tagged for non-compliance? No? Why does anyone think Leilani will turn out any differently?