Bill Text: HI HCR263 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Small Boat Harbors; County Ordinances; Exemption

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-12 - (H) Referred to WLO, referral sheet 48 [HCR263 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HCR263-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	263
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the city and county of honolulu to exempt the ala wai and keehi boat harbors from county zoning and building ordinances.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, numerous economic factors, including the downturn in Hawaii's two main industries, tourism and construction, have had a tremendous impact on the state budget and contributed to the State's growing deficit; and

 

     WHEREAS, although the state economy had been performing very well until recently, with the lowest rate of unemployment in the nation and budget surpluses for many years, the meltdown of the global economy that began in the latter part of 2008 severely reduced the State's revenue projections and collections; and

 

     WHEREAS, many Hawaii residents have lost jobs, investments, and homes, and there has been a decrease in the number of visitor arrivals, resulting in a decline of consumer spending; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a result, in 2009, the Legislature faced a historic revenue shortfall; and

 

     WHEREAS, if circumstances remain unchanged, the current budget shortfall of over $1,100,000,000 will require a reduction in spending of at least $550,000,000 over the next two years; and

 

     WHEREAS, while some solutions to solve the current fiscal crisis have been or are currently being implemented, additional revenue sources are still needed; and

 

     WHEREAS, without additional revenue sources, the daily operations of the State, including essential services to residents and visitors alike, are in jeopardy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State urgently needs to address this revenue shortfall as soon as possible; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State holds title to many parcels of land that could be leased and developed to produce a fair return to the State and reduce the State's budget deficit; and

 

     WHEREAS, some of these state lands include fast lands around the State's small boat harbors, which, once developed, could generate sorely needed revenue for the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, all state harbors were exempt from county zoning and building ordinances under section 266-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, until the enactment of Chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statues, in 1991, which transferred the management of the State's small boat harbors to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation; and

 

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, only commercial harbors in the State were exempted from county zoning and building resources under section 266-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and small boat harbors were subject to county zoning and building ordinances; and

 

     WHEREAS, county zoning and building ordinances have caused delays in the development of these fast lands and in small urban boat harbors, such as the Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors, and the lengthy process of obtaining county permits is unnecessary given that any development must also comply with the provisions of Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     WHEREAS, exempting development of the fast lands in the Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors from county zoning and building ordinances would expedite these projects at a time when the revenue from these fast lands is needed; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to exempt any development, construction, and improvements of the Ala Wai and Keehi boat harbors and the fast lands contained within these harbors from county zoning  and building ordinances; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the City and County of Honolulu does not grant the exemption by January 1, 2011, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit proposed legislation to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2011 Regular Session that would re-instate the exemption of small boat harbors from county zoning and building ordinances; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Mayor and council members of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Small Boat Harbors; County Ordinances; Exemption