The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Maui County Council on July 19, 2024.
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July 19, 2024, 9 a.m.
Council Chamber, Kalana O Maui Building
To: Maui County Council
Alice Lee, Chair
Yuki Lei Sugimura, Vice-Chair
From: Jonathan Helton, Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
RE: Bill 110 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 16.25.201, MAUI COUNTY CODE, RELATING TO IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC STREETS
Aloha Chair Lee, Vice-Chair Sugimura and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its support for Bill 110 (2024), which would exempt Lahaina and Kula property owners whose homes or businesses were damaged or destroyed by the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires from normal street-improvement requirements.
Typically, Maui property owners must pay for improvements to public streets that are adjacent to their properties whenever they remodel their existing buildings or build new commercial or residential structures and the value of the work done to the structure exceeds 50% of its value. These improvements can include repaving roads, adding sidewalks or placing utilities underground.[1]
Because many of the owners in Lahaina and Kula are faced with the need to completely rebuild, they would face the additional burden of paying for these street improvements. Waiving this requirement would help such residents afford to rebuild their homes or businesses.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton, Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] Maui County Code, 16.25.201 – Applicability and Scope., accessed July 15, 2024
