STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1194

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 740

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 740, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING DENSITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require each county to adopt ordinances that establish a minimum housing density requirement of two hundred fifty units per acre on certain state lands.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from BIA Hawaii and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that establishing minimum housing density requirements will impede urban sprawl, preserve agricultural lands and open space, and facilitate the development and use of public transit.  Further, your Committee finds that two hundred fifty units per acre is an appropriate minimum housing density requirement for state lands that are within an urban district and zoned for development or redevelopment.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Permitting, rather than requiring, each county to adopt ordinances establishing minimum housing density requirements;

 

(2)  Changing the minimum housing density requirement from two hundred fifty units per acre to an unspecified amount;

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(4)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 740, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 740, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair