THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2698

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature established the Hawaii community development authority in 1976 as a public entity to determine community development programs and--in cooperation with private enterprise and federal, state, and county governments--to plan and implement programs that result in communities that serve the highest needs and aspirations of Hawaii's people.  To ensure that a comprehensive and coordinated plan is executed with and for the community, the law that established the Hawaii community development authority explicitly requires community engagement in the community development plans and development projects.

     However, the legislature finds that in the thirty-seven years since its creation, the authority has not met the standards for creating a mixed-use, mixed-income community.  In fact, the authority has not followed the plan adopted by the community and has instead liberally interpreted the requirements and amended the plan and rules without accountability or transparency to the detriment of the community, thereby failing to fulfill the mandate that the community development plan be implemented in an "orderly, affordable and feasible manner."

     The legislature also finds that the authority is operating without accountability or transparency in failing to meet one of the authority’s major objectives: to create housing for low- or moderate-income residents.

     The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the authority follows the intent of chapter 206E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, along with the plans and rules adopted to achieve the law's objectives--to create a community development district that meets the minimum requirements of good design, pleasant amenities, and public health and safety, while staying within existing uses.  More specifically, this Act:

     (1)  Ensures that adopted plans and rules are followed, particularly in regard to density, height, infrastructure, and low- and moderate-income housing;

     (2)  Provides for adequate community engagement in the authority's planning and decision-making on development projects; and

     (3)  Establishes a process for contesting the authority's decisions.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 206E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§206E-    Reconsideration; judicial review.  Any person adversely affected by an action or decision of the authority may file a petition for reconsideration within thirty days of the authority's action or decision.  Proceedings for judicial review of the authority's final decision on the petition for reconsideration shall be in the same manner as provided for in section 91-14."

     SECTION 3.  Section 206E-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

     "(f)  The authority may amend the community development plan as may be necessary.  Amendments shall be made in accordance with chapter 91[.]; provided that no amendment to the operative Kakaako community development district mauka and makai area plans, and their attendant rules, shall take effect without the prior approval of the legislature by a concurrent resolution submitted by the authority and adopted by each house by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the members to which that house is entitled.

     The authority shall include in the concurrent resolution the proposed amendments and the justification therefor."

     SECTION 4.  Section 206E-5.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§206E-5.5[]]  Community engagement and public notice requirements; posting on the authority's website; required.  (a)  The authority shall adopt community engagement and public notice procedures pursuant to chapter 91 that shall [include], at a minimum:

     (1)  [A means to effectively] Effectively engage the community in which the authority is planning a development project [to ensure that community concerns are received and considered by the authority;] by working with residents and landowners residing within the community in which the project is located to ensure that the rules are followed and that proposed buildings do not adversely affect the community or its residents and businesses;

     (2)  [The] Include the posting of the authority's proposed plans for development of community development districts, including details of any new proposed developments; public hearing notices[,]; and minutes of its proceedings on the authority's website; provided that, if requested, a copy of notices shall be mailed to property owners and residents in the affected community; and

     (3)  [Any] Include any other information that the public [may find useful] requests so that it may meaningfully participate in the authority's decision-making processes.

     (b)  The authority shall notify the president of the senate [and]; speaker of the house[:]; and the state senators, state representatives, and city councilmembers who represent the district in which the development project is to be located:

     (1)  Of any public hearing upon posting of the hearing notice; and

     (2)  With a report detailing the public's [reaction at the public hearing,] comments and the authority's response to any concerns raised about the project, within one week after the public hearing."

     SECTION 5.  Section 206E-5.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The authority shall notify the president of the senate [and]; speaker of the house[:]; and the state senators, state representatives, and city councilmembers who represent the district in which the development project is to be located:

     (1)  Of any public hearing upon posting of the hearing notice; and

     (2)  With a report detailing the public's [reaction at the public hearing,] comments and the authority's response to any concerns raised about the project, within one week after the public hearing."

     SECTION 6.  Section 206E-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§206E-33  Kakaako community development district; development guidance policies.  The following shall be the development guidance policies generally governing the authority's action in the Kakaako community development district:

     (1)  Development shall result in a community which permits an appropriate land mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses.  In view of the innovative nature of the mixed use approach, urban design policies should be established to provide guidelines for the public and private sectors in the proper development of this district; while the authority's development responsibilities apply only to the area within the district, the authority may engage in any studies or coordinative activities permitted in this chapter which affect areas lying outside the district, where the authority in its discretion decides that those activities are necessary to implement the intent of this chapter.  The studies or coordinative activities shall be limited to facility systems, resident and industrial relocation, and other activities with the counties and appropriate state agencies.  The authority may engage in construction activities outside of the district; provided that such construction relates to infrastructure development or residential or business relocation activities; provided further, notwithstanding section 206E-7, that such construction shall comply with the general plan, development plan, ordinances, and rules of the county in which the district is located;

     (2)  Existing and future industrial uses shall be permitted and encouraged in appropriate locations within the district.  No plan or implementation strategy shall prevent continued activity or redevelopment of industrial and commercial uses which meet reasonable performance standards;

     (3)  Activities shall be located so as to provide primary reliance on public transportation and pedestrian facilities for internal circulation within the district or designated subareas;

     (4)  Major view planes, view corridors, and other environmental elements such as natural light and prevailing winds, shall be preserved through necessary regulation and design review;

     (5)  Redevelopment of the district shall be compatible with plans and special districts established for the Hawaii Capital District, and other areas surrounding the Kakaako district;

     (6)  Historic sites and culturally significant facilities, settings, or locations shall be preserved;

     (7)  Land use activities within the district, where compatible, shall to the greatest possible extent be mixed horizontally, that is, within blocks or other land areas, and vertically, as integral units of multi-purpose structures;

     (8)  Residential development [may] shall require a mixture of densities[,] not to exceed a maximum of 3.5 with respect to the floor area ratio; building types[,] of no more than four hundred feet in height; and configurations in accordance with appropriate urban design guidelines; integration both vertically and horizontally of residents of varying incomes, ages, and family groups; and an increased supply of housing for residents of low- or moderate-income may be required as a condition of redevelopment in residential use.  Residential development shall provide necessary community facilities, such as open space, parks, community meeting places, child care centers, and other services, within and adjacent to residential development;

     (9)  Public facilities within the district shall be planned, located, and developed so as to support the redevelopment policies for the district established by this chapter and plans and rules adopted pursuant to it[.]; and

    (10)  Before approving development projects, the authority shall require comprehensive studies of and plans for the infrastructure capacity of the sewers, roads, utilities including water and electricity, schools, parks, and other requirements to ensure that they meet the needs generated by the additional number of anticipated residents and, where improvements are needed, the authority shall accordingly impose the necessary impact fees upon the developer."

     SECTION 7.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 8.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 9.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii Community Development Authority; Public Notice; Reconsideration Process

 

Description:

Amends HCDA public notice requirements and requirements for project approval.  Creates a reconsideration process with available judicial review for HCDA decisions or actions.  Takes effect 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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