To the extent permitted by law, and pursuant to this Chapter, the County Council recommends to any County Department or Agency to waive the payment of some or all fees related to the development and construction of workforce housing units. The waiver for payment of some or all fees shall be in conjunction with a workforce housing program approved by the Housing Agency.
(Ord. No. 860, November 20, 2007)
Upon proclamation by the Mayor that a crisis in the availability of workforce housing could be best addressed by giving qualified workforce housing projects a priority in the County permitting process and upon adoption of a resolution by the County Council acknowledging the necessity to expedite permit processing for work-force housing projects, the County may institute a priority permitting policy for a specified period of time. The priority permitting policy for workforce housing projects may be extended as necessary upon proclamation by the Mayor and resolution by the County Council. Provided a project includes workforce housing units in a number equal to or greater than 51% of the total housing units within a project site and to the extent permitted by law, the County shall expedite the review and issuance of all County permits necessary for the development of the project site, including but not limited to: all subdivision applications, civil construction plan permits, and other plans and permits associated with the development of the project site. Building permits shall only be expedited for workforce housing units. The County agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to avoid unnecessary processing delays for these developments and to assist the developer in expediting such processing. The County shall use its best efforts to initiate a fast track process and expedite administrative review for all of the County permits by requiring each County office, agency, department, or authority responsible for the review and approval of the County permits to review such permits as a first priority. The County, through its Mayor, shall authorize the applicable department heads to expedite the County permits pursuant to the County's fast track process. Provided, however, that any request for discretionary approvals, including Planning Commission or County Council approvals, that may be necessary shall be determined pursuant to the established procedures for such approvals. The Housing Agency shall develop administrative rules to administer this fast track permitting process.
(Ord. No. 860, November 20, 2007)
The County's exemption authority pursuant to Chapter 201H-38, Hawai'i Revised Statutes, may be utilized to expedite requests to amend zoning and for zoning permit application, subdivision application, and building permit application, as well as, to consider reduced development standards for any project that is at least 51% workforce housing.
(Ord. No. 860, November 20, 2007)
The County, through the housing agency, may issue and accept government credits for the development of workforce housing units upon State government lands by qualified developers that may be applied to satisfy a portion of workforce housing requirements either: (a) imposed upon a developer by the County and/or (b) imposed upon a developer by any State agency that are implemented by the County, provided that applicable income and residency requirements of this Chapter are complied with. Government credits shall be issued to the State government entity for each workforce housing unit developed on State government lands on a one-for-one basis; one workforce housing unit credit for each workforce housing unit developed. The State government entity is authorized to assign each government credit to the developer that constructed the workforce housing units. The government credit shall be used solely to satisfy the workforce housing requirements imposed upon a developer. A developer may use these government credits to satisfy up to 25% of the total workforce housing requirements either: (a) imposed by the County and/or (b) imposed upon a developer by any State agency that are implemented by the County.
(Ord. No. 860, November 20, 2007)
The Housing Agency shall submit to the County Council written progress reports. Said reports shall be submitted at least annually to the County Clerk from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter. Annual reports shall contain a description and summary on the effectiveness of the housing policy, including the number of workforce housing provided pursuant to this Chapter.
(Ord. No. 860, November 20, 2007)