La’akea Community formed in 2005 when a group of six people purchased La’akea Gardens. Our vision as an intentional community is to: steward the land at La’akea, continue the mission of teaching permaculture at La’akea while expanding into others aspects of sustainability such as personal and relationship growth, communication techniques, emotional processing, healing arts and creative arts.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09hFJ4fPQ2E
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Mahalo for your participation.
For building permit process, this is a basic reference to be familiar with, and outlines the normal process/hoops for building permits, including what department(s) are responsible for what elements:
http://www.hawaii-county.com/permits/Bldg%20permit%20FAQs.pdf
Engineers/architects are currently able to take direct responsibility for at least one aspect of some kinds of buildings (excerpt from above document):
“The design, engineering, construction and installation of pre-engineered roof trusses are the responsibility of Structural engineers or Architects.Pre-engineered roof truss drawings are not required to be submitted with a building permit application as of March 1, 2010.Instead, the architect or structural engineer of record accepts responsibility and liability for engineering, construction and installation of pre-engineered roof trusses in a letter to the building division.This change, which was suggested by design professionals and agreed to by the County, keeps the design/construction process moving forward, allowing for the solicitation of bids, hiring of a contractor and time to shop for pre-engineered roof truss drawings appropriate to the project.”
cheers,John S.
— John Schinnerer – M.A., Whole Systems Design——————————————— Eco-Living -Whole Systems Design ServicesPeople – Place – Learning – Integration
Read the preface of the Puna community development plan, which talks about needing to look to the past.
Read The Hawaii county sustainability primer.
Also the 2050 sustainability plan. http://www.hawaii2050.org/ Refer to these things a lot when dealing
with the government.
John S
10/29/2010
We suggest that if a neighbor complains, that neighbor should also be checked to be sure that they are in compliance. Neighbor Reciprocity. Ask for the police or someone else to to come and mediate, before the complaint is dealt with in court.
We should address this with Jeff at the planning dept. and other county officials.
11/24/2010
Neighbor Complaints. If a neighbor complains, that neighbor should also be checked to be sure that they are in compliance with zoning issues to avoid spurious claims. Known as “Neighbor Reciprocity”. Ask for the police or County Policing Officer to to come and mediate, before the complaint is dealt with in court. Can we push for this in legislation?
Karin: She learned we went after the county with ignorance and an adversarial attitude, that made it hard. She went right to the Gov officials and talked to them. Don’t look at it as “us against them”. Also it is very important to connect with any neighbors who might be impacted and complain.
Scott: wants to make a regulation that says: You can’t file a complaint unless you live here, and you can’t file a complaint unless you have been here one year. this would be a legislative change. He spends a lot of time just being a referee between neighbors.
if in the future there is the need to create code to permit alternative construction, look on indigenous architecture subsection, like lava rock, thatching, etc. Could ask for an exception under section 15-1
recommended to Graham: Search the Revised statutes for “recycling”. Building materials are a big problem. Seattle has great ordinances about what has to be done. Search for the “Zero Waste Plan”
We advocate that generally, the Gov should make minimum guidelines and then have a disclaimer/waiver or variances that they are not responsible for individual choices. Disclosure could be in the deeds
We need exemptions from building codes, and the need to have architects sign off.
Architects: ask Jeff Darrow more about if the legislation allowing architects to sign off on alternative structures has been passed?
If we go for temporary structures, the regulations are looser. If we want to make permanent structures, things are tighter. Selling point is safety, and health of the buildings. An architech can sign off on odd houses and he takes the safety liability. Base it on the Ag tourism and the 2050 laws as much as possible.
What types of buildings are covered by “Type 2” Housing?
Answer: Scott recommends making legal Type 2 housing, similar to Type K in Sonoma. They have some guidelines, having to do with health and safety.
If something like the New Mexico law is deemed as the best approach – what do you think needs to be done with it to make it stronger?
New laws: need to have a clearly defined limitations about what is permissible. You want to have a strong definition of exactly what you want to do, so the inspectors can know what they are looking for., and how to make sure you are doing it
Always refer to what other people are already doing as a precedent.
John’s notes:
* I would be curious to see some real live examples of approved “experimental site” applications from NM, and perhaps the details in practice would for example mitigate Scott’s concerns about the general nature of the legislation itself.
* Hawaiian homelands may be an already existing “experimental site” opportunity (more after I finish some legal inquiries). It is also a demographic missing from HSCA thus far.
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Aloha