STAND. COM. REP. NO.  303

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 859

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 859, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPLETE STREETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enable the Hawaii Community Development Authority to incorporate complete streets design to create safe and convenient street routes for all pedestrians, bicyclists, and users of public transportation in community development districts by:

     (1)  Requiring the Authority to notify a county that will be affected by proposed improvements to county highways and county-owned adjacent land and to allow the county an opportunity to present its position at a public hearing;

     (2)  Requiring the county to accept the dedication of county-approved improvements constructed in accordance with the Authority's complete street rules; and

     (3)  Requiring the Authority to develop and adopt complete streets standards and plans for community development districts.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority; Office of the Governor; a member of the Honolulu City Council; Blue Planet Foundation; and Outdoor Circle submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that this measure reflects on-going cooperation between the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the City and County of Honolulu.  Your Committee further finds that this measure directs the Authority to adopt the necessary rules to provide the counties an opportunity to present their respective positions on the Authority's complete streets developments at a public hearing.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that decisions of the Authority shall include findings that proposed improvements to a county highway or adjacent land are consistent with local and national policies, principles, guidelines, and best practices;

     (2)  Specifying that a decision issued in compliance with the notice and findings requirements shall be final and binding on the affected county, which shall permit and accept dedication of the improvements;

     (3)  Making it effective upon approval; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 859, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 859, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair