STAND. COM. REP. NO. 98

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1558

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1558 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO URBAN RENEWAL,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Permit the establishment of special purpose overlay districts in each county for the purpose of creating incentives for urban renewal that are consistent with that respective county's long-range, comprehensive general plan;

 

     (2)  Create the Urban Renewal Task Force to investigate the need for redevelopment in urban areas in each of the counties and to make recommendations for implementing a state-wide plan for urban renewal; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the allowable travel expenses of the Urban Renewal Task Force.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting, City and County of Honolulu.

 

     Your Committees find that many communities contain blighted areas that constitute physical and economic liabilities that require redevelopment in the interest of the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of these communities.  The Urban Renewal Task Force established by this measure will designate potential redevelopment project areas in each county and identify the specific needs of each area.  This measure is intended to stimulate urban renewal, including new job and housing opportunities, the development or improvement of public facilities, recreational opportunities, and basic infrastructure, through state and county efforts that may be undertaken together with private partners to revitalize the urban communities in our State.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1558 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair

 

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair