Kudos to the Kaua‘i County Council for voting this past Wednesday to approve purchase via eminent domain of a 23.5-acre lot in Kilauea for affordable housing.
Forcing a landowner to sell their private property to the government is never the first choice of policymakers. However, when there is no land on the market that is suitable AND the shortage of affordable housing so great, sometimes it’s the only option available. The process can be long, complicated and hostile. But at the end of the day, the landowner is in fact paid “fair market value” as determined by the court and multiple appraisals.
A messy process to be sure, but necessary it seems in this case to fulfill an urgent public need.
Typically, the county will attempt to negotiate with the owner, who would likely seek a greatly inflated price based on the property’s speculative value should it be rezoned from agriculture to residential or multi-family use. The county, of course, would much rather purchase the land valued “as is” and at the lowest price possible.
Congratulations to the County Council, County Housing Agency and mayor for taking this significant step and aggressively pursuing the expansion of Kaua‘i’s affordable-housing inventory.
Gotta ask, however: What about Lihu‘e?
Grove Farm owns 38,000 acres of land on Kaua‘i, including lands that border almost the entire perimeter of Lihu‘e, AND they essentially control much of the water for Lihu‘e (and other areas).
Lihu‘e is where the jobs are. In Lihu‘e, there are sewers, bike paths, hospitals, shopping, bars and restaurants — not to mention the airport, harbor, college and seat of government.
The answer (excuse) most commonly offered for the lack of affordable-housing development in Lihu‘e is a lack of water. However, the lack of water has not in the past stopped the development of multiple shopping centers, golf courses, new resort timeshare developments and expensive residential housing.
Yes, the availability of water is a challenge, but not an unsurmountable one. There are always workarounds, and smart people I am sure could come up with solutions and alternatives.
Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro is approaching his final year on the council. He, along with Councilmember Mason Chock, will be “terming out” and unable to run for reelection in 2022.
As the chair of the council AND a current and long-time employee of Grove Farm, this would seem to be an opportune time for Kaneshiro to initiate such a conversation. Of course, there is a conflict of interest, but we should put that out in the sunshine and deal with it. Certainly, the chair should not vote on whether to do a deal or not, nor the details of whatever deal that may come forth. But he should not be prevented from helping to start the conversation. In fact, he should be encouraged to do so.
Kaua‘i desperately needs truly affordable housing. Grove Farm owns almost all the developable land in and around Lihu‘e, and they control much of the water. The county controls the zoning and the development-approval process. One would think they could get together and negotiate a win-win for the people of Kaua‘i. Otherwise, if negotiation was not possible, one would think the county might treat Grove Farm similarly as they are treating the landowner in Kilauea.
One would think. But then again, maybe not in the world of politics.
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Gary Hooser is the former vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council, and was the former director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. He serves presently in a volunteer capacity as board president of the Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action and is executive director of the Pono Hawai‘i Initiative.
Great Idea… so very true!!!!! Grove Farm also owns land in Poipu [East side of Ala Kinoiki Road] that has been designated as “work force housing” in the Kauai South Shore Plan- with the new sewer system to come in this area —would be great to also request / force Grove Farm to proceed with workforce housing in Poipu!!!!!!
It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Kilauea to Lihue. What about the 1,400 acres that Bette Midler owns adjoining Wailua Houselots? A much better choice in my opinion to develop for affordable housing. I guess she would have the resources to fight any adverse possession as does Grove Farm. I guess the council is choosing the battles that would be easy to win?
Hooser is basically a creature of government…he just doesn’t get that it is the government causing the dearth of building lots. Excessive and onerous land-use regulations, bureaucratic and political obstruction of rezoning (from ag to residential), all add up to a huge disparity between supply and demand. Demand is obviously far in excess of available supply…this results in higher prices (“unaffordable”) for building lots.
Instead, Hooser lobbies for taxpayers to subsidize the county purchasing property. Why should the hard working people of Kauai be held hostage because the county and state have effectively choked off the supply of building lots? This is a problem easily mitigated by a change in the ordinances and political mindset. Then allow the market to solve the problem…which it would if given an opportunity. However, as we see over and over again, politicians refuse to ever acknowledge when they’ve made a mistake. They will never, therefore, reverse the onerous policies and toxic bureaucratic mindset.
Because of this you will be hearing the same lame drivel from Hooser and his minions for many years to come. All the while it is the people who can least afford the delay that are being punished.
RSW
What are you even talking about? Let the market solve the problem? Small supply and high demand = high prices. The market solving itself would literally be just rich people owning all the properties. Or everyone just doing short term rentals over Air B&B. It might be nice if locals could actually afford living on the island.
Good God…..just say no to affordable housing (aka taxpayer subsidized housing for the unmotivated)……the unmotivated that will not move to where there are more opportunities and a lower cost of living. Cry me a river….. “I was born and raised here, so the government should ensure I have a house I can afford”. Let me guess….you hate the tourists and can’t stand the tourist industry (aka the ONLY thing we produce), but complain there are no high paying jobs for the unskilled and the cost of living is high. Yes, supply and demand. You are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the most remote island on planet Earth. It costs money to live here. SMH.
RSW is dead on target.
Building regulations and bureaucracy is off the chart on Kauai. The system is designed to ensure maximal employment for the bureacrats – zero concern is for the hapless property owner/builder – costs skyrocket as a result. The system is designed for the convenience of lifer government bureacrats – zero concern that time is money or that there is need for efficient, streamlined processes. Almost nothing can be done in parallel track – so any delay in one delays everything – it’s insanity run amok and there is complete disdain by the bureaucracy to change or admit their processes are grossly flawed.
Don’t build. Buy! Take (that’s what it really is) a resort like Plantation Hale (for example) through eminent domain (if legally allowed) and rent the units out to long term residents only at low prices. Everything is already there, plus it’s walking distance to shops and grocery stores. It’s also centrally located. Collect rent, maintenance fees, and taxes to counter the required fair market value of the property costs, and create a revenue stream. Kauai, quit building upon an infrastructure that is already overburdened. Or, wait until another Iniki to come and clear the island for you.
When letting the market decide it is always won by the golden rule- he who has the Gold, Rules!
And wait for it………everyone in the USA has the OPPORTUNITY to get the gold. Be the best at anything and you will get the gold. Life is not that hard.
If the County/State are taking by eminent domain, they have to pay fair value. Where is the best location at an affordable price?
The current property owners can’t subdivide it because it is zoned agriculture. Now the County wants to seize the property, pay the lower agriculture zone assessment, then rezone the property for residential development. Hardly seems fair, but Hooser doesn’t care…