LIHU‘E — The minimum plot of land on which two or more multiple-family units may be developed is up for debate before the County Council.
During the council’s April 8 Planning Committee meeting, the group considered an ordinance that will allow for high-density projects to be built on any-sized land.
The ordinance, which is largely housekeeping, would allow attached or detached multi-family homes on land of any size, as long as it is still in compliance with the residential density district, Planning Committee Chair Luke Evslin explained in an interview.
Councilmember Felicia Cowden, who ultimately voted in favor of the bill, had reservations that were inspired by the past few weeks.
“I have seen the problems that happen as a result of too much density for houses,” she said. “It’s been, you know, countless hours of time over the past couple of weeks of neighborhood sightings and just how much people can get into other’s throats looking into each other’s windows. I think we need to be careful how we put our houses too close together.”
However, she voted in favor because she sees that it’s important to not restrict new housing developments.
“We have such a shortage of housing,” Cowden said. “I recognize that takes priority, but my approval is with reservations.”
Evslin, who with the Planning Commission brought the ordinance forward, clarified the ordinance, saying that it just gives options to homeowners.
“In practice, outside of our town cores, smaller lots can also do multi-family homes, and it’s the families with the lower density with multi-family construction,” Evslin said. “I think it’s a slight mischaracterization to say these weren’t designed for it. Simply, (we’re) giving the homeowner the option, and they can only do it if they have the density to do it.”
This ordinance was first introduced in February, and will be up for its second and final reading on Wednesday, April 22.
•••
Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
