Hawaii-2018-HB437-Introduced

SECTION 1. Section 205A-43.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Prior to action on a variance application, the authority shall hold a public hearing under chapter 91. By adoption of rules under chapter 91, the authority may delegate responsibility to the department. Public and private notice, including reasonable notice to abutting property owners and persons who have requested this notice, shall be provided, but a public hearing may be waived prior to action on a variance application for:

(1) Stabilization of shoreline erosion by the moving of sand entirely on public lands;

(2) Protection of a legal structure costing more than $20,000; provided the structure is at risk of immediate damage from shoreline erosion;

(3) Other structures or activities; provided that no person or agency has requested a public hearing within twenty-five calendar days after public notice of the application; or

(4) Maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and minor additions or alterations of legal boating, maritime, or watersports recreational facilities, which result in little or no interference with natural shoreline processes[.];

provided that a public hearing shall not be waived for action on a variance application for a seawall subject to section 205A-46(d)."

SECTION 2. Section 205A-44, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Except as provided in this section, structures are prohibited in the shoreline area without a variance pursuant to this part. [~~Structures~~] Except as provided in section 205A-46(d), structures in the shoreline area shall not need a variance if:

(1) They were completed prior to June 22, 1970;

(2) They received either a building permit, board approval, or shoreline setback variance prior to June 16, 1989;

(3) They are outside the shoreline area when they receive either a building permit or board approval;

(4) They are necessary for or ancillary to continuation of existing agriculture or aquaculture in the shoreline area on June 16, 1989;

(5) They are minor structures permitted under rules adopted by the department which do not affect beach processes or artificially fix the shoreline and do not interfere with public access or public views to and along the shoreline; or

(6) Work being done consists of maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and minor additions or alterations of legal boating, maritime, or watersports recreational facilities, which are publicly owned, and which result in little or no interference with natural shoreline processes;

provided that permitted structures may be repaired, but shall not be enlarged within the shoreline area without a variance."

SECTION 3. Section 205A-46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§205A-46 Variances. (a) [A] Except as provided in subsection (d), a variance may be granted for a structure or activity otherwise prohibited in this part if the authority finds in writing, based on the record presented, that the proposed structure or activity is necessary for or ancillary to:

(1) Cultivation of crops;

(2) Aquaculture;

(3) Landscaping; provided that the authority finds that the proposed structure or activity will not adversely affect beach processes and will not artificially fix the shoreline;

(4) Drainage;

(5) Boating, maritime, or watersports recreational facilities;

(6) Facilities or improvements by public agencies or public utilities regulated under chapter 269;

(7) Private facilities or improvements that are clearly in the public interest;

(8) Private facilities or improvements which will neither adversely affect beach processes nor artificially fix the shoreline; provided that the authority also finds that hardship will result to the applicant if the facilities or improvements are not allowed within the shoreline area;

(9) Private facilities or improvements that may artificially fix the shoreline; provided that the authority also finds that shoreline erosion is likely to cause hardship to the applicant if the facilities or improvements are not allowed within the shoreline area, and the authority imposes conditions to prohibit any structure seaward of the existing shoreline unless it is clearly in the public interest; or

(10) Moving of sand from one location seaward of the shoreline to another location seaward of the shoreline; provided that the authority also finds that moving of sand will not adversely affect beach processes, will not diminish the size of a public beach, and will be necessary to stabilize an eroding shoreline.

(b) Hardship shall be defined in rules adopted by the authority under chapter 91. Hardship shall not be determined as a result of county zoning changes, planned development permits, cluster permits, or subdivision approvals after June 16, 1989, or as a result of any other permit or approval listed in rules adopted by the authority.

(1) To maintain safe lateral access to and along the shoreline or adequately compensate for its loss;

(2) To minimize risk of adverse impacts on beach processes;

(3) To minimize risk of structures failing and becoming loose rocks or rubble on public property; and

(4) To minimize adverse impacts on public views to, from, and along the shoreline.

(d) No variance for the construction of a seawall in the shoreline area shall be approved unless the applicant demonstrates that the seawall is necessary to protect an existing legal object, structure, or activity from damage due to seawater inundation or shoreline erosion and the object or structure cannot reasonably be protected by relocating it outside of the shoreline area. In determining whether a variance for a seawall may be approved, the authority shall consider:

(1) The feasibility and cost of relocating the relevant structures, objects, or activities outside of the shoreline area;

(2) The likelihood that damage will occur if the seawall is not constructed and the likely severity of that damage; and

(3) The availability of alternate means to protect the relevant objects, structures, or activities."

SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	437
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII