The city Department of Planning and Permitting proposed an amendment to the City Charter to allow “dimensional variances” for owners who encounter “practical difficulties” in making improvements to their property.

This would allow property owners to vary certain standards in the city’s zoning code, such as setback and height limits.

Currently, the Charter criteria for “use” variances require strict adherence to the “unnecessary hardship and denial of the reasonable use of the property” provision.

Contrary to Linda Paul’s assertion (“City seeks end run around court’s Kyo-ya ruling,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Dec. 16), the DPP proposal was submitted on July 17, well before the Hawaii Supreme Court decision on Sept. 23 in the Kyo-ya case. More important, the proposal will aid single-family residential property owners and small businesses, which are the bulk of variance requests.

George Atta

Director, Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting

Cartoon offered touching message

I was so touched by the “Real Americans” cartoon in the Dec. 15 paper: “… We’ll deal with (Syrian refugees) like real Americans! Welcome, neighbors! How can we help?”

Thank you so much for this.

Isn’t that what God tells us to do, love our neighbor as we love ourselves?

Liz Nelson

Kaneohe

Money for Hawaii tilts toward military

Once again the military trumps all other Hawaii needs in a $1.15 trillion congressional spending bill.

The text under the misleading Star-Advertiser headline tells us that the touted $200 million for “isle projects” refers to a nearly 50 percent boost in military construction — $444 million (“Spending bill sets aside over $200 million for isle projects,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 17).

For an island where traffic is a problem, but housing a crisis, spending priorities continue to be warped. We see a $10 million transportation hike, but nothing for local housing. However, Congress does fund $68 million to house Marine bachelors at Kaneohe Bay.

Does this truly represent the “across-the-board investments for Hawaii” that U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz brags about in his comments? Seems like the board tilts heavily to the military side, with a few scraps remaining for the rest of us.

In the coming days, some of us will stand outside President Barack Obama’s vacation home to advocate for a reversal of priorities from war to peace. Hopefully, he will give us a glance as he rides off to the well-provisioned Kaneohe base for his daily workout.

Wally Inglis

Palolo Valley

State can’t afford ‘ivory search’ unit

While the intentions may be honorable, the state cannot afford to build an “ivory search and punishment” dynasty (“Fresh push to ban ivory expected,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 15).

Perhaps, if the present laws pertaining to the safety of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and children were enforced, and many of the existing departments pruned to a productive core, a team of inspectors could be employed. But my guess is that a staff of cronies and has-been politicians, and a fleet of vehicles would be the first order.

Expanding from there, clerks and a complete computer system would track down and verify the age and import dates of all of the ivory in Hawaii, and, finally, inspectors who can tell old/new ivory from resin or tagua nut will be needed. So like many other proposed boondoggles, ditch the bill.

Roger Van Cleve

Waikiki

Aloha Stadium has dubious history

The recent flap over using inferior materials for the artificial turf at Aloha Stadium is just one of several issues that blemish its history.

I recall reading that the structure, built in 1975, consists of a unique metal material designed to control corrosion. Exposed surfaces would not deteriorate beyond a thin layer of rust to become the permanent exterior coating and eliminate the need for extensive painting.

Unfortunately, the metal failed to withstand Hawaii’s salty atmosphere. Instead, it continued to corrode beyond the surface layer, so the goal to eliminate substantial painting was not achieved.

Another design innovation was major reconfiguring of large seating sections for optimum viewing at different types of sporting events. This involved mechanically moving massive amounts of metal weighing tons.

Subsequently, problems developed because of another design failure and the feature was eventually abandoned.

Robert Engelbardt

Kailua

We’ll see fewer shaka signs soon

As I sit here comtemplating one more year for President Barack Obama after this winter vacation on Oahu, the first thing that came to mind was that this would be the end of seeing that familiar shaka sign from our president of the United States — someone comfortable in being born and raised in a place where I have nothing but great memories from my childhood.

We were all very lucky enough to have grown up in a pristine island and ocean environment that our offspring will never, ever see again unless we malama aina.

For our young future leaders, Obama exemplifies that anything is possible, even if you don’t know what a shaka sign means.

Byron Kaneshiro

Wahiawa