STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2036-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 204

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 204, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO PUBLISH ON ITS WEBSITE ALL DECISIONS REGARDING WAIVERS AND VARIANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu to publish on its website all decisions regarding waivers and variances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Director of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu has the authority to grant or deny waivers of and variances to building and land-use requirements. These decisions affect communities and the quality of life of residents. However, the existing process for granting or denying waivers and variances lacks transparency because documents pertaining to those decisions are not readily accessible to members of the public.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 204, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair