STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1584

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 163

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 163 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committees find that the State is committed to optimizing the use of public lands to serve the community effectively. Your Committees further find that flexible setback policies or variances that accommodate the unique needs of public buildings can promote greater density and more efficient use of public resources. According to testimony received by your Committees, because land costs in Hawaii can easily top $2 million for relatively small commercial or industrial lots, it should be a priority of the State to get the most value out of taxpayer dollars when building or renovating its buildings. This measure can help state facilities be more appropriately sized and located, thereby leading to improved public service delivery.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 163, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 163, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations,

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair