• Affordable housing and housing costs Affordable housing and housing costs By Walter Lewis The County Council discussions at its June 3rd meeting reported the next day in TGI relating to the Kukui‘Ula Development proposal provide a foretaste of a
• Affordable housing and housing costs
Affordable housing and housing costs
By Walter Lewis
The County Council discussions at its June 3rd meeting reported the next day in TGI relating to the Kukui‘Ula Development proposal provide a foretaste of a potential coming tragedy.
The concerns expressed by the Council members about the shortage of “affordable housing” on Kaua‘i are well justified. The median price for a single family home on our island was recently said to be $477,000 and rising. Given the existing population, there is an acute shortage of housing units, at least several thousand. Although I know of no data compiled for Kaua‘i, on Maui over 90% of all homes sold for more than $600,000 were purchased by non-residents. A similar position is likely true here. The Kukui‘Ula project contemplates sale of building lots for $800,000 or more. Clearly these lots will not be bought by residents with working level incomes.
The heart of the matter is that while our County officials are troubled about the housing situation on our island no real policy has been enunciated. For developments the Planning Commission has certain rules and practices to be observed governing utilities and infrastructure matters, but no meaningful requirements as to pricing of construction. The County Housing authority has adopted a policy, which one councilmember described as “amorphous” calling for 15% of units in a project to be “affordable.” Since developers cannot be expected to voluntarily accept “amorphous” policies, obviously what is needed is the adoption of a law that clearly identifies County policy.
It should be noted that an element of the current problem is that historically the County has considered housing issues on an ad hoc basis associated with a development being proposed. Apart from the legal difficulties this entails, it seems evident that the County policy should be examined and any appropriate ordinance adopted in an overall context and not as a reaction under the pressures of a specific development proposal.
Despite the numerous concerns voiced by the Council members last week, it remains to be seen whether the Council will be able to discipline itself to act in an orderly and effective way and to determine what the County policy should be to deal with the crisis the County now has relating to the inadequacy of housing economically available to its residents. There are a variety of measures worthy of review that could provide relief to County housing needs including fees earmarked for funding affordable housing projects from building permits, as well as developer contributions incident to project approvals.
There are some who believe that government should stay away from land use matters, scrap zoning and the like and let the market place dictate the course. They are right when government acts ineptly, but it is governmentís responsibility to determine public policy and it seems clear that a way must be found to provide housing for our residents.
They do little record of the County Council , however, does not provide a rosy prognosis for the County Council bestirring itself to make the hard decisions that would be requisite in land development matters. Recently the Salary Review Commission recommendations opened a pathway for compensation increases for the Council. But pay raises should be earned. Let’s encourage our Council to make a thoughtful examination of the issues and adopt meaningful measures to alleviate our critical housing problems, and avoid the tragic consequences of continuing inaction.
Walter Lewis is a resident of Princeville
