A Maui News opinion piece argues that Maui County’s workforce housing ordinance has structural loopholes that allow developers to avoid building any affordable units within a given community plan area. The county faces a shortfall of nearly 10,000 affordable units with no clear path to meeting the goal.
- Maui County needs an estimated 9,742 new affordable workforce housing units by 2025, a target local officials have not met.
- The 2006 Residential Workforce Housing Policy requires developments of 10+ units to set aside 25% for residents earning 50–140% of Area Median Income.
- Developers can satisfy the requirement through in-lieu fees or land dedication, meaning zero affordable units may be built within the affected community plan area.
- The in-lieu fee option funnels money into Maui County’s Affordable Housing Fund, but fund allocations require County Council approval.
- The article argues the ordinance’s loopholes render its workforce housing goals largely ineffective and calls for code reforms.
Source: Maui News
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