STAND. COM. REP. NO. 629

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1148

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1148, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) to conduct a study relating to smart growth and transit-oriented development initiatives.

     More specifically, this measure requires HCDA to conduct a feasibility study regarding:

(1)  HCDA assuming the role of planning, developing, and redeveloping all state-owned lands within one mile of the Honolulu rail transit system, except state-owned lands currently under the administration of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority; and

(2)  Creating a new community development district along the Honolulu rail corridor.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the feasibility study proposed in this measure is warranted to determine the best means to pursue the development of state-owned properties along the rail transit line.  Your Committee further finds that the state-owned land along the rail transit route is administered by numerous departments and agencies and that these entities may lack the expertise and resources to oversee land development.  Your Committee recognizes that it is important for the State to have a unified, coordinated vision for implementing sound transit-oriented development and smart growth development of its properties.  Your Committee believes that the Hawaii Community Development Authority could be the appropriate entity to guide development and redevelopment along the rail line.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation provision to reference the correct name of the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

     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. 1148, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1148, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair