An affordable housing project planned for Hilo will be a “pocket neighborhood,” said developers requesting a zoning change for the project Tuesday.
An affordable housing project planned for Hilo will be a “pocket neighborhood,” said developers requesting a zoning change for the project Tuesday.
Hale Ola O Mohouli is a 90-unit project planned to be built on a nine-acre Mohouli Street parcel in Hilo targeting low- to moderate-income seniors and families.
Keith Kato, executive director of the Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation, appeared before the County Council Planning Committee to request an exemption from zoning laws requiring buildings to have at least 15 feet of space between them, preferring instead a minimum of 10 feet.
Kato said the vision for the project — mostly low-rise units for one or two families — will be a close-knit “pocket neighborhood” with clusters of units arranged around green space.
County planner Jeff Darrow said the requested exemption is appropriate given the proposed design.
The committee voted in favor of the zoning exemption, with most council members complimenting the project for addressing a shortage of affordable housing in the county. However, Kato noted that the project is still very early in the planning stages and does not have funding yet.
