Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire
Sept 1, 2008
TVR'S IN NON- RESORT AREAS:
TVR's have a place in our community, but we must also try to minimize the impacts they bring as well. Several of our community plans in non-resort areas (Ha'iku- Pa'ia and Hana, for example) have policy language relating to B&B -TVR's asking that regulations be established and enforced or setting specific standards. These should be respected. I would support a broader concept of allowing our "resort areas" to be redesigned into more actual communities, with a mix of housing prices, stores and other village-town facilities nearby. The TVR issue may very well be resolved by the time the next council takes office. If it is not, the Council should look for an interim solution to allow long established TVR's/B&B's who have tried to secure permits, paid all taxes and operated in good faith with no community complaints, to operate while a final ordinance is crafted.
INFRSTRUCTURE:
Answer; My highest priorities would be to
- resolve additional road capacity to West Maui
- expand water storage capacity , water re-use and County ownership of potential water resources
- address the need for additional sewage treatment facilities and upgrades to phase out injection wells that are harming our reefs..
Specific proposals:
West Maui road: Expand use of existing cane haul roads in west Maui and other areas for emergency use while a longer range by-pass is being decided. I sit on the state's Honoapiilani Hwy re-alignment task force and the 6 lane road that is being proposed is not likely to be well received by the community. We need a unified plan for 2 lanes in each direction, max.
Water resources: Create several upcountry reservoirs and a reservoir near Waihee to collect and store large surges of surface water during rainy periods. This can serve both farms and domestic users.Test ground water supplies in the key growth regions to determine best areas to produce clean ground water. Condemn those lands and create wells to serve the local region. Invest in water re-use and efficiency as the city of Honolulu and the City of LA have- costs less money and improves the recharge to aquifers we all depend upon.
Wastewater; Kahului plant needs to move inland and be able to distribute reclaimed water to the central plain for agriculture, landscape and possible ponds to help cool the area as it develops. Lahaina Plant needs more storage capacity and delivery capacity for reclaimed water to help recharge aquifers and minmize potable water use on landscaping. Kihei needs upgrades to higher UV disinfection levels and expanded distribution lines to serve Wailea and also potential agriculture in the South Maui area.
home based business.
The Council's draft of language amending section 19.4 of the County code gives some useful definitions of the types of mixed use or residential based businesses that would make sense to include in the Service District Residential District ordinance that the council is reviewing. This will better define mixed uses permitted in our rural towns- for present and future.
Beyond that, it is also important to allow home based businesses in rural or ag areas that do not generate high levels of traffic or parking, impact the health and safety of neighboring residents or violate noise or other regulations. Such businesses could include services such as bookkeeping, web design, graphics, architectural or landscape design, financial/ investment services, real estate sales, wholesale goods distribution, music or art instruction, health and wellness services, repair services, crafts such as woodworking, weaving, pottery, or jewelry making; photography or art, consulting businesses, writers and journalists and, of course, ag related businesses such as farm product processing and distribution, horse or cattle ranches or plant / animal sales.
As a lifelong small business person, I strongly support the need for clear policies that permit home based businesses in order to promote opportunities for local residents to earn a living in a diversified economy and to minimize the need to commute. The County code should specify the ranges of home businesses that would be allowed in urban, rural or ag areas without a special use permit and those that would require such a permit. Businesses should have standards to meet (such as valid GET license or other appropriate licenses or certification) & a process for complaints to be heard if activities are considered inappropriate for the residential neighborhood ( ie loud band rehearsals, excessive fumes, etc)
STREAMLINE COUNTY PERMIT PROCESS
Multi-agency review of permits with applicant would help resolve many delays and confusions.
Resolve water availability
Take the long view and cooperate with natural cycles: Create more storage. Recharge our best aquifers. Permit the reuse of grey water for landscape and non-potable use to free up more potable water for domestic use. Acquire more land for regional wells in west Maui, and Upcountry . Create a public water treatment facility in Waihee. Give homeowners incentives to install catchment systems to increase self sufficiency and make more meters available upcountry. Work with the largest water users and help them become more water efficient, reducing costs and freeing up new supply. Follow the lead of Honolulu and replace more non-potable water use with reclaimed water.
We need to plan our water future with the knowledge that rainfall patterns may change over the next several decades and plan to capture reserves of water during times of abundant rainfall. Southern Austrailia has labored under severe drought conditions for the past 2 years. We. are an island and must use our water wisely.
Residential Workforce housing bill
I do not support repealing this bill, but would support amendments to help ensure fairer treatment for small developers and other possible improvements. It is important to remember that the definition of "affordable" under this bill covers a wide range of home prices.
The most successful affordable housing efforts start with reasonable land costs. We need to use the incentives offered by the HALE housing land trust and other non-profit programs such as Lokahi Pacific and Hale Mahaolu as models to bring more affordable housing into reality by allowing landowners to gain tax incentives for lower land costs. We also need to look at support the County and state can offer to expedite water availability and permitting for projects that are primarily affordable.
Visitor Industry
When I served on the Hawaii Tourism Authority Strategic Planning task force I learned that Maui County, especially Maui island, is the state's county most dependent upon the visitor industry. While this has been good for our economy, it also puts us at risk if circumstances beyond our control reduce visitor arrivals. I believe that a truly diversified economy would include services that benefit local businesses, resorts and residents long term, like jobs in the renewable energy sector and retrofitting homes, businesses, resorts and public facilities to be energy efficient. .
I also believe that our Council should support our visitor industry `s efforts to evolve and offer visitors an unique and authentic multi-cultural experience. I support a future expansion of educational and health related tourism. I would like to see a permitting process that supports retreat and learning centers where world class teachers can gather their students; healing and health centers which offer instruction and treatments and a University featuring studies in all of the cultures, arts and history of the nations that rim the Pacific.
urban growth boundaries
I support the concept of UGB in the new general plan. I would like to see a 10 year and 20 year version of the UGB to allow flexibilities in planning. I support the UGB concept because Maui has reached a stage in its maturity as a community that we need a comprehensive view of where our communities will be. I also support rural growth boundaries.
Shortfall in REAL property Tax
Projected shortfalls do not always materialize as predicted. As a professional researcher, I would want to analyze where the shortfalls would be coming from in order to make any budgetary decisions fair and equitable.
COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS ON COUNTY PROPERTY
Council members must try to find balance. Weddings and commercial food or activity operations in local beach parks help support small local businesses. However, when there are too many trying to use a limited public space, it has an impact on the ability of local residents to have a quiet place to enjoy life with their families. The same holds true of bike companies and other visitor based activities that share our roads and parks. They best solution would be to use any fees from public land based businesses to actually improve life for local residents such as creating more beach access or constructing off road bike paths. I support looking for ways that local businesses can survive and be seen as a benefit.
WEST MAUI HOSPITAL I fully support the establishment of a West Maui Hospital and feel that the county and state should provide support to streamline the review process.
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