Honolulu City Council Policy Resolutions

(Link to original Word Processing Version)

80-239

ESTABLISHING POLICIES FOR PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR O'AHU'S LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS.

    WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the systematic improvement of housing, the prevention of overcrowding, the establishment of healthy standards of density, the creation of necessary public open spaces and public facilities, and the stimulation of economic development are important elements by which a city prospers; and

    WHEREAS, the limited amount of useable land and rapid rate of O'ahu's population growth have resulted in a persistent housing shortage and a rapid upward spiralling of housing costs; and

    WHEREAS, home ownership on O'ahu is more a dream than a reality for many residents; and

    WHEREAS, the three housing objectives of the City and County General Plan are "to provide decent housing for all of the people of O'ahu at prices they can afford," "to reduce speculation in land and housing," and "to provide the people of O'ahu with a choice of living environments which are reasonably close to employment, recreation and commercial centers and which are adequately served by public utilities"; and

    WHEREAS, three key policies included in the General Plan under these objectives are to (1) "develop programs and controls which will provide decent homes at the least possible cost," (2) "make full use of State and Federal programs that provide financial assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers," and (3) "encourage the provision of housing designed for the elderly and the handicapped"; and

    WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to establish policies to guide the development of City and County properties for affordable housing; now, therefore,

    BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that City and County plans and programs to provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households shall be governed by the following policies:

    1.    Use of Existing City-Owned Land - Existing City-owned land shall be used to provide affordable housing where the land is undeveloped or under-utilized and housingis compatible with existing or planned uses on the site and in the surrounding area.

    2.    Land Acquisition - The City and County shall, within the limits of its financial resources, acquire new sites for affordable housing where the cost of the land is such that it can within a reasonable period of time be recovered through lease rents and still permit the provision of a significant proportion of affordable units within the project.

    3.    Number of Affordable Units - All of the cost savings resulting from the use of City-owned land shall be applied to reduce the price of as many units as possible to a level which is affordable for low- and moderate-income households.

    4.    Retention of Units at Affordable Prices - Provisions shall be made in all projects to insure that both for-purchase and rental units are maintained at affordable prices regardless of changes in ownership and occupancy.

    5.    Federal Funds - Community Development Block Grant, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 Rent Supplement, and other available Federal programs shall be utilized to the maximum extent possible to provide affordable housing.

    6.    City Funds - Revenue Bonds, General Funds and other available City programs shall be utilized to the extent practicable to provide affordable housing.

    7.    City and County Revolving Fund - A revolving fund shall be established to provide qualified purchasers with mortgage funds at reduced interest rates and to cover the costs of implementing provisions aimed at retaining units at affordable prices.

    8.    Private Initiative - The private sector shall be encouraged to prepare and submit proposals to the Department of Housing and Community Development for the development of affordable housing on both existing City-owned land and land which might be acquired.

    9.    Project Design - The design and construction of all affordable housing projects shall conform to and implement the objectives and policies of the General Plan and the urban design principles and controls contained in the Development Plans, and shall in general be compatible with the surrounding area and otherwise consistent with sound urban design principles.

    BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Clerk be, and he is, hereby directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the City Managing Director, the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Director of the Department of Land Utilization and the Director of the Department of Transportation Services.

                         INTRODUCED BY:

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                                Councilmembers

DATE OF INTRODUCTION:

September 24, 1980
Honolulu, Hawaii

ADOPTED this 24th day of September , 1980.

Policy Resolutions