STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3673

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 197

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 197 entitled:

"SENATE 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 and intent 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 Kahuku Community Association, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the decisions rendered by the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu impact communities and the quality of life of residents. Currently, the Director of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu has the authority to provide exceptions to building and land use requirements. The current process for granting or denial of waivers and variances lacks transparency as documents pertaining to those decisions are not easily accessible to members of the public. The Department of Planning and Permitting oversees functions critical to ensuring public safety and comprehensive land use planning such as enforcement of zoning, building, electrical, housing, plumbing, and energy codes; administration of the Land Use Ordinance; preparation of the Oahu General Plan; transit-oriented development; and development and sustainable community plans. In light of the March 2021 indictment of five current or former Department of Planning and Permitting employees for allegedly accepting bribes to fast track permits and provide other special treatment, your Committee further finds that maintaining the public's trust is paramount to the Department of Planning and Permitting and success of new developments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adding the Executive Officer of the Public Utilities Commission to the list of recipients of certified copies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 197, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 197, S.D. 1.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair