HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1559

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE KAKAAKO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the redevelopment of Kakaako as first envisioned in Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 1976, is steadily becoming a reality, with new buildings, open spaces, and new areas to live, work and play, particularly in the Kakaako Mauka area.

     While the Honolulu skyline is undergoing a renaissance with new designs and architecture, the legislature finds that the existing artificial height limit of four hundred eighteen feet for buildings in the Kakaako Mauka area will create a relatively uniform and undesirable flat top to the Honolulu urban skyline.

     The legislature finds that, similar to other cities around the country and the world, Honolulu would benefit from a signature urban skyline that includes buildings of varying heights, which in turn will contribute to an aesthetically-pleasing and architecturally-unique experience while fulfilling needs within the urban core.

     The legislature further finds that increased residential density in areas within the urban core and near planned rail transit stations is particularly appropriate and desirable in order to fulfill transit-oriented development principles.

     The purpose of this Act is to improve the Honolulu skyline while fulfilling urban needs by authorizing the Hawaii community development authority to permit one building that is in close proximity to a planned rail station within each approved master plan area within the Kakaako Mauka area to exceed the current four hundred eighteen foot height limit in exchange for the provision of community and public benefits.

     SECTION 2.  Section 206E-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§206E-33  Kakaako community development district; development guidance policies.  The following shall be the development guidance policies generally governing the authority's action in the Kakaako community development district:

     (1)  Development shall result in a community which permits an appropriate land mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses.  In view of the innovative nature of the mixed use approach, urban design policies should be established to provide guidelines for the public and private sectors in the proper development of this district; while the authority's development responsibilities apply only to the area within the district, the authority may engage in any studies or coordinative activities permitted in this chapter which affect areas lying outside the district, where the authority in its discretion decides that those activities are necessary to implement the intent of this chapter.  The studies or coordinative activities shall be limited to facility systems, resident and industrial relocation, and other activities with the counties and appropriate state agencies.  The authority may engage in construction activities outside of the district; provided that such construction relates to infrastructure development or residential or business relocation activities; provided further, notwithstanding section 206E-7, that such construction shall comply with the general plan, development plan, ordinances, and rules of the county in which the district is located;

     (2)  Existing and future industrial uses shall be permitted and encouraged in appropriate locations within the district.  No plan or implementation strategy shall prevent continued activity or redevelopment of industrial and commercial uses which meet reasonable performance standards;

     (3)  Activities shall be located so as to provide primary reliance on public transportation and pedestrian facilities for internal circulation within the district or designated subareas;

     (4)  Major view planes, view corridors, and other environmental elements such as natural light and prevailing winds, shall be preserved through necessary regulation and design review; provided that no portion of any building or structure in the Kakaako Mauka area shall exceed four hundred eighteen feet in height[;] other than one building of up to seven hundred sixty-eight feet in height which the authority may permit within each approved master plan area for the Kakaako Mauka area; provided further that:

          (A)  The building shall be located no further than        feet from a planned transit station for the Honolulu rail transit project; and

          (B)  As an additional condition for permit approval, the authority shall negotiate appropriate and proportional public benefits, to include additional residential units, consistent with this chapter;

     (5)  Redevelopment of the district shall be compatible with plans and special districts established for the Hawaii Capital District, and other areas surrounding the Kakaako district;

     (6)  Historic sites and culturally significant facilities, settings, or locations shall be preserved;

     (7)  Land use activities within the district, where compatible, shall to the greatest possible extent be mixed horizontally, that is, within blocks or other land areas, and vertically, as integral units of multi-purpose structures;

     (8)  Residential development may require a mixture of densities, building types, and configurations in accordance with appropriate urban design guidelines; integration both vertically and horizontally of residents of varying incomes, ages, and family groups; and an increased supply of housing for residents of low- or moderate-income may be required as a condition of redevelopment in residential use.  Residential development shall provide necessary community facilities, such as open space, parks, community meeting places, child care centers, and other services, within and adjacent to residential development; and

     (9)  Public facilities within the district shall be planned, located, and developed so as to support the redevelopment policies for the district established by this chapter and plans and rules adopted pursuant to it."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

HCDA; Kakaako District; Building Height

 

Description:

Authorizes the HCDA to permit one building that is up to 768 feet in height and located near a transit station within each approved master plan area for the Kakaako Mauka area of the Kakaako Community Development District, subject to provision of appropriate public benefits. (HB1559 HD1)

 

 

 

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