Pros and cons of a "spaghetti lot" (Hawaiian Acres: lender, buy)

[rhbj03]

Big Island has many many many thin and long lots. It seems these have been systematically created. To me this shape undermines privacy, and makes it difficult to utilize the land. But are there some benefits I am not seeing?

What are the pros and cons of the spaghetti lots?

[leilaniguy]

Spaghetti lots were designed by the developers to get the largest lots with the smallest road frontage. (You can't sell roads, no profit there.) There are no real redeeming advantages that I can think of.

[hotzcatz]

If you get along with your neighbor, perhaps you can do a 'consolidation and re-subdivision' and make the lots into a double wide front lot with a double wide flag lot in back. For Hawaiian Acres, it'd be even better if you could get three folks together to do that so you get three almost square lots.

[rhbj03]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

If you get along with your neighbor, perhaps you can do a 'consolidation and re-subdivision' and make the lots into a double wide front lot with a double wide flag lot in back. For Hawaiian Acres, it'd be even better if you could get three folks together to do that so you get three almost square lots.

would it be nightmareish to get that thru the building dept? is that considered sub dividing?

[leilaniguy]

It's done pretty often, it's called reconfiguring, not subdivision. There are several lots done that way in most subdivisions. I think it would be fairly simple.

[pj737]

Originally Posted by leilaniguy

It's done pretty often, it's called reconfiguring, not subdivision. There are several lots done that way in most subdivisions. I think it would be fairly simple.

Interesting. Is this something that's exclusive to the Big Island? Here on Oahu, the only options are CPR or subdivide. The former being done in about half the time and half the cost. The caveat to the faster/cheaper alternative being there is almost always a shared common area element to the project and lender products aren't as desirable or as ubiquitous. And sometimes a board needs to be formed with maintenance fees/assessments billed periodically.

When you said "reconfigure", does that essentially mean CPR?

[Grassyknoll]

Most of the areas with spaghetti lots are situated in what I would consider affordable subdivisions . Buy a couple of adjoining 1 acre lots and now you have a real usable piece of land. That's what I did.
But yeah, the way many are of these lots are laid out they seem impractical (unless your dream is having a 600' driveway).

[hotzcatz]

Nope, not CPR, just consolidate two lots into one and then 'subdivide' to make that one back into two again. You still have to follow the zoning sizes but it's basically a way to redraw property lines. No new number of properties are created, just redrawing the lines between them.

The biggest expense is paying for the new survey.

[rhbj03]

Is a lot 77' x 909' considered a spaghetti lot?

With 20' setback on the two sides, you will be left with 33' width to build your house. I suppose it's doable but will be limiting. Would you buy such a lot?

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by rhbj03

Is a lot 77' x 909' considered a spaghetti lot?

Yes. Although the precise definition can vary somewhat by jurisdiction, a "spaghetti lot" is one in which its length is at least twice its width. That "77' x 909'" lot has a length that is almost 12 times its width.

Originally Posted by rhbj03

With 20' setback on the two sides, you will be left with 33' width to build your house. I suppose it's doable but will be limiting. Would you buy such a lot?

I'd only buy it if it were relatively cheap and I already owned the adjacent lot(s).