THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2633

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HISTORIC PROPERTY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  According to the United States Census Bureau and the department of business, economic development, and tourism statistics, nearly forty per cent of private residences on Oahu were built in 1969 or earlier.  In certain census tracts, this number is as high as eighty-five per cent.

     Hawaii law provides that any building, structure, object, district, area, or site over fifty years old is considered historic property.  Further, current application of historic preservation law requires review by the state historic preservation division of the department of land and natural resources prior to the granting of permits for proposed projects on historic properties.  This requirement, in certain instances, has delayed the granting of permits, which has had a negative impact on development.  As nearly forty per cent of residential properties on Oahu have reached or are approaching fifty years of age, it is prudent for the State to reexamine the current processes and procedures regarding historic properties.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Include only buildings, structures, objects, districts, areas, or sites that are included in or eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places in the definition of "historic property";

     (2)  Exempt residences not included in or eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places and projects determined by the department of land and natural resources to not affect historic properties from historic preservation review by the department in connection with applications for project or land use permits;

     (3)  Require the department of land and natural resources to develop a list of types of projects that have no potential to affect a historic property and a list of the types of properties likely to be eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places and to provide those lists to the counties; and

     (4)  Require the department of land and natural resources to develop a plan for completing a comprehensive inventory of historic buildings in the State.

     SECTION 2.  Section 6E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "historic property" to read as follows:

     ""Historic property" means any building, structure, object, district, area, or site, including heiau and underwater site, [which] that is [over fifty years old.] included in or eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places."

     SECTION 3.  Section 6E-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§6E-42  Review of proposed projects.  (a)  Before any agency or officer of the State or its political subdivisions approves any project involving a permit, license, certificate, land use change, subdivision, or other entitlement for use, which may affect historic property, aviation artifacts, or a burial site, the agency or office shall advise the department and prior to any approval allow the department an opportunity for review and comment on the effect of the proposed project on historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites, consistent with section 6E-43, including those listed in the Hawaii register of historic places.  If:

     (1)  The proposed project consists of corridors or large land areas;

     (2)  Access to properties is restricted; or

     (3)  Circumstances dictate that construction be done in stages,

the department's review and comment may be based on a phased review of the project; provided that there shall be a programmatic agreement between the department and the project applicant that identifies each phase and the estimated timelines for each phase.

     (b)  Residences not included in or eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places, and projects determined by the department to have no potential to affect historic properties in accordance with the requirements of Act      , Regular Session of Hawaii 2014, shall not be subject to review by the department pursuant to this section and shall not be submitted to the department for review.

     [(b)] (c)  The department shall inform the public of any project proposals submitted to it under this section that are not otherwise subject to the requirement of a public hearing or other public notification.

     [(c)] (d)  The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this section."

 

     SECTION 4.  (a)  The department of land and natural resources shall:

     (1)  Develop a list of the types of projects that have no potential to affect a historic property and provide the list to the counties no later than October 1, 2014; and

     (2)  Develop a list of the types of properties likely to be eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places and provide the list to the counties no later than January 2, 2015.

     (b)  Properties not included in or eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places and projects of the types identified in the list developed pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall not be subject to review under section 6E-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the counties shall not submit such projects to the department for review under section 6E-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 5.  The department of land and natural resources shall develop a plan for completing a comprehensive inventory of historic buildings in the State and shall submit the plan, together with a proposed budget for implementation of the plan, to the legislature no later than fourteen days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Historic Preservation; Historic Property; Private Residence

 

Description:

Amends the definition of "historic property" for purposes of required DLNR permit review to reflect historic significance, rather than age alone.  Exempts residences that are not historic property from DLNR permit review.  Directs DLNR to take action to facilitate historic property reviews.  (SB2633 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.