Report Title:
Development; smart growth
Description:
Amends the quality growth section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to add to the purpose of quality growth and establish more comprehensive provisions to develop a quality growth program.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1022 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
related to development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds that the sprawl that is so evident in so many cities and towns, including those in Hawaii, has a number of cultural, economic, environmental, and social consequences such as deteriorating infrastructure, poor schools, and shortages of affordable housing in central cities and older suburbs, and increased traffic congestion, declining air quality, loss of open space, and absence of a sense of place in newer suburban areas.
The Legislature finds that "smart growth" is a term that describes community efforts to manage and direct growth in a way that minimizes damage to the environment and builds livable towns and cities.
The Legislature also finds that the commonly recognized goals of "smart growth" include (1) mixing land uses in places or neighborhoods accessible by foot or bike, (2) taking advantage of compact building designs to help create convenient neighborhood centers that people want and present opportunities to absorb growth and development in a way using land more efficiently, (3) creating a range of housing opportunities and choices for people of all income levels, (4) creating walkable neighborhoods, (5) fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place reflecting community values, (6) preserving open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas, (7) strengthening and directing development towards existing communities to conserve open space and irreplaceable natural resources on the urban fringe, (8) providing for a variety of transportation choices, (9) making development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective as the private sector must embrace the concept of "smart growth" in order for communities to be successful in implementing it, and (10) encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration of development decisions.
The purpose of this act is to amend the quality growth, which is synonymous with smart growth, sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to better meet the goals of smart growth and provide for a brighter future for all people of Hawaii.
SECTION 2. Section 223-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[§223-1] Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the development of a policy for
the State of Hawaii that manages and directs growth in a way that will [to]
halt urban sprawl with its attendant need for costly urban services, to
preserve and conserve open space areas, to enhance and protect the environment
of Hawaii, and to uplift the quality of life for all its citizens, builds
livable towns and cities, and to provide for implementation of such policy.
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SECTION 3. Section 223-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§223-2 Quality growth policy. The office of planning shall develop a quality growth policy based upon the following considerations:
(1) An examination of the environmental impact of proposed urban development;
(2) An examination of the environmental impact of establishing minimum density requirements;
[(2)] (3) The relationship between
short-term and long-term environmental quality;
(4) The impact and benefits of development buffers;
(5) The impact and benefits of urban growth boundaries;
[(3)] (6) Any irretrievable commitment
of resources through urban development; and
(7) The economic impact of the purchase of development rights programs;
[(4)] (8) Alternatives available to
minimize adverse environmental effects as balanced against economic development
of the State.
(9) An examination of the economic and environmental impact of zoning;
(10) An examination of the economic and environmental impact of exclusive agricultural zoning;
(11) An examination of the economic and environmental of cluster developments
The quality growth policy shall include a comprehensive policy framework for directing growth and land use and shall identify State growth objectives and specific operational constraints to further such objectives."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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