STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2104

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 163

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 163, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT FLEXIBLE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS OR ESTABLISH VARIANCE PROCEDURES FOR STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO ENHANCE LAND USE EFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the counties to adopt flexible setback requirements or establish variance procedures for state buildings and facilities to enhance land use efficiency and public service delivery.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Grassroots Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that setback requirements mandate minimum distances between structures and property lines and are established to ensure safety, privacy, and aesthetic standards in urban planning. However, strict adherence to uniform setback requirements can limit the State's ability to develop or renovate public buildings and facilities in a manner that maximizes land use efficiency. Your Committee further finds that other jurisdictions have implemented flexible setback policies or granted variances to accommodate the unique needs of public buildings, thereby promoting greater density and more efficient use of public resources. Your Committee believes that flexibility can lead to improved public service delivery by allowing state facilities to be more appropriately sized and located.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 163, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

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JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair