STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3245

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 2 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WHO MANAGE AND OWN LAND AROUND EACH OF THE PLANNED RAIL TRANSIT STATIONS TO CONSIDER AND INCLUDE IN DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSIONS, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, ELDERLY SERVICES, AND OTHER BENEFICIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the various state and county departments who manage and own land around each of the planned rail transit stations to consider and include in development discussions, affordable housing, child and family services, elderly services, and other beneficial opportunities for the people of Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Office of Planning; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and one individual.

Your Committees find that transit-oriented development presents an opportunity for transit-centered communities located around planned rail stations.  These transit-centered communities have the potential to provide much needed opportunities for Hawaii residents in areas of affordable housing and other community services.  Transit development coordination has primarily been between the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the City and County of Honolulu; however, as a major landowner at a majority of the planned rail transit stations, the State is also a primary entity in the transit development discussions.

Your Committees believe that well-planned, well-designed, and equitable transit-oriented development may accomplish interrelated goals by maintaining and providing housing for low- or moderate-income families, preventing displacement of existing residents through gentrification, ensuring access to transportation for low- to moderate- income residents, and co-locating essential services for children and families.  Transient-oriented development communities are intentionally community-based in design.  Well-planned communities address the social determinants of health - how we live, work, play, and learn.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that it pertains to entities that either manage or own land or provide services around planned rail stations, and amending the title to reflect this clarification;

     (2)  Noting that the City and County of Honolulu provides elderly services and senior programs; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Energy and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair