STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 47
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2019
RE: H.B. No. 1403
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2019
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1403 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require the counties to implement a streamlined permit approval process, including an exemption from the environmental impact statement requirement, for certain housing development projects that commence between July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2026.
The Department
of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Sierra Club of
Hawai‘i and several individuals submitted
testimony in opposition to this measure.
The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of
Environmental Quality Control, Hawaiian Community Assets, Life of the Land, and
an individual submitted comments on this measure.
Your Committee notes the testimony of Hawaiian Community Assets that there is a delicate balance between affordable housing development and the preservation of cultural and environmental resources, and that environmental impact statements are necessary for sustainable development, effective management, and environment conservation.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050,
to promote further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments
for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1403, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1403, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,
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____________________________ TOM BROWER, Chair |
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