HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

239

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

supporting DW Aina Le'a Development LLC's continued buildout of the urban development between the Mauna lani resort development and waikoloa village, as permitted by the state and county governments.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Land Use Commission Docket No. 87-617 approved, and effective January 1989, reclassified one thousand sixty-two acres centrally located on the Big Island between the Mauna Lani resort development and Waikoloa Village from an agricultural district to an urban district; and

 

WHEREAS, because the reclassified area receives less than ten inches of rainfall per year, it is not suitable for agricultural development; and

 

WHEREAS, the Land Use Commission Decision and Order in Docket No. 87-617 also authorized the development of a residential community consisting of one thousand nine hundred twenty-four dwelling units, support facilities, and recreational amenities, including a commercial center, a golf course, a club house, parks and community facilities; and

 

WHEREAS, additionally, the County of Hawaii's Community Plan designates the one thousand sixty-two acres as Urban Expansion, allowing for medium to high density residential uses, and on December 5, 1996, County of Hawaii Change of Zone Ordinance No. 96-153 permitted one thousand forty-five homes to be built on the one thousand sixty-two acres; and

 

WHEREAS, on November 25, 2005, the Land Use Commission issued an order that "at least twenty per cent of the project's residential units" shall be offered for sale at prices determined to be affordable by the County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development, provided that in no event shall the gross number of affordable housing units within the one thousand sixty-two acres be less than three hundred eighty-five units; and

 

WHEREAS, on February 9, 2009, DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, purchased the one thousand sixty-two acres with all approved entitlements from the prior land owner; and

 

WHEREAS, on September 24, 2009, the Land Use Commission permitted DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, to develop the one thousand sixty-two acres, provided that DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, commence development immediately and complete sixteen affordable units by March 31, 2010; and

 

WHEREAS, DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, completed the construction of sixteen affordable units, meeting the County of Hawaii's building inspection standards; however, the community infrastructure facilities were not completed by March 31, 2010; and

 

WHEREAS, DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, did employ more than three hundred fifty local workers and did invest more than $25,000,000 with local vendors and contractors during the initial development of the land and construction of the forty affordable units; and

 

WHEREAS, DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, has formed marketing and investment partnerships with businesses representing hundreds of individuals in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan to participate in the development of The Villages of Aina Le'a by buying tenants in common property interests in the land, thereby holding title and deed as taxpayers, and provided more than $25,000,000 for the development of the project; and

 

WHEREAS, the Big Island community desires that the one thousand sixty-two acres be developed as a residential community with at least three hundred eighty-five affordable units to serve the needs of the resort area; and

 

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii, represented by the Legislature, desires that affordable units be built now to provide business for local vendors and to provide employment for local workers; and

 

WHEREAS, DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC, has committed to continue building three hundred eighty-five affordable units on the one thousand sixty-two acres of residential property permitted by Land Use Commission Docket No. 87-617 and County of Hawaii Zoning Ordinance No. 96­153, in compliance with the county of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development regulations; now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports DW Aina Le'a Development LLC's continued buildout of the permitted development, which will in turn employ workers, support local businesses and suppliers, and provide homes for local residents; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor, Council Chairperson, and Director of Planning for the County of Hawaii; and the President of DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

DW Aina Le'a Development, LLC; Development; Big Island