HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2647
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to vacant lands.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there are numerous vacant parcels of state land within the 96817 zip code area on the island of Oahu. Many of these parcels have become dumping grounds for bulk trash and have attracted other illegal behavior.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a pilot project to identify the vacant lands in one zip code area and to explore the possibility of converting those vacant lands into resources that will deter crime and benefit the community, such as community gardens, parks, lending libraries, and food pantries.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of transportation shall establish the vacant lands for community use pilot project. The purpose of the pilot project shall be to identify small parcels of vacant state lands, solicit input from the community for proposals to convert those lands into resources that will deter crime and benefit the community, and convert the use of the land to certain specified uses if community consensus on a proposed use of a parcel is reached.

(b) The department of transportation shall compile a list of real property parcels owned or controlled by the department of transportation within the 96817 zip code area that are classified as urban or rural pursuant to section 205-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and are not used as a roadway, highway, parking lot, or government office, along with the status of use for each parcel for fiscal years 2018-2020.

(c) The department of transportation shall solicit input from the community regarding proposed uses of vacant parcels identified pursuant to subsection (b). If a community consensus is reached on a use of any vacant parcel, the department of transportation may convert the use of that parcel pursuant to the agreed upon use. No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020, the department of transportation shall submit a report to the legislature. The report shall include:

(1) Proposed uses of vacant parcels within the 96817 zip code area, which may include community gardens, parks, lending libraries, and food pantries;

(2) A description of any parcels for which the use of the parcel has been converted pursuant to this Act;

(3) Other findings or recommendations deemed relevant by the department of transportation;

(4) Proposed legislation, if any; and

(5) A recommendation on whether the pilot project should be made permanent, modified, or terminated.

(d) The department of transportation shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(e) The pilot project shall terminate on June 30, 2020.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DOT; Vacant Land; Community Use; Pilot Project; Report

Description:

Establishes a pilot project to identify vacant Department of Transportation parcels within the 96817 zip code area and to propose uses for those parcels to deter crime and benefit the community. Requires a report.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.