Bill Text: HI SB1337 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Housing Density.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-03-18 - The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [SB1337 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-SB1337-Introduced.html
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1337 |
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HOUSING DENSITY.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§46- Block-level
upzoning program. (a) The
counties may adopt an ordinance establishing a block-level upzoning program that
allows homeowners within a block to vote to increase the housing density beyond
the allowable amount authorized by county ordinance for their respective block;
provided that homeowners within a block shall not have the authority to decrease
the housing density for their respective block; provided further that the block
is located on land within an urban district as established by the state land use
commission.
(b) The mayor of each county with the approval of the
respective council may designate a county agency or official who shall oversee the
block-level upzoning program and have the power to review and offer comments for
all proposed housing density increases.
(c) Upon receiving an affirmative vote of two-thirds
of the homeowners within a block, the county agency or official shall increase the
housing density for that block.
(d) Any change in housing density by the county agency
or official may be challenged in the circuit court of the circuit in which the land
in question is located. The challenge filed
in circuit court shall be in accordance with the Hawaii rules of civil procedure.
(e) The county agency or official may adopt ordinances
that are necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this section, including
but not limited to:
(1) Voting rules and
procedures;
(2) Public outreach
requirements prior to voting; and
(3) Defining a "block"."
SECTION 2. Section 46-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§46-4 County zoning.
(a) This section and any
ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted in accordance with this section shall
apply to lands not contained within the forest reserve boundaries as
established on January 31, 1957, or as subsequently amended.
Zoning in all counties shall be
accomplished within the framework of a long-range, comprehensive general plan
prepared or being prepared to guide the overall future development of the
county. Zoning shall be one of the tools
available to the county to put the general plan into effect in an orderly
manner. Zoning in the counties of
Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai means the establishment of districts of such number,
shape, and area, and the adoption of regulations for each district to carry out
the purposes of this section. In
establishing or regulating the districts, full consideration shall be given to
all available data as to soil classification and physical use capabilities of
the land to allow and encourage the most beneficial use of the land consonant
with good zoning practices. The zoning
power granted herein shall be exercised by ordinance which may relate to:
(1) The
areas within which agriculture, forestry, industry, trade, and business may be
conducted;
(2) The
areas in which residential uses may be regulated or prohibited;
(3) The
areas bordering natural watercourses, channels, and streams, in which trades or
industries, filling or dumping, erection of structures, and the location of
buildings may be prohibited or restricted;
(4) The
areas in which particular uses may be subjected to special restrictions;
(5) The
location of buildings and structures designed for specific uses and designation
of uses for which buildings and structures may not be used or altered;
(6) The
location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other
structures;
(7) The
location of roads, schools, and recreation areas;
(8) Building
setback lines and future street lines;
(9) The
density and distribution of population;
(10) The
percentage of a lot that may be occupied, size of yards, courts, and other open
spaces;
(11) Minimum
and maximum lot sizes; and
(12) Other
regulations the boards or city council find necessary and proper to permit and
encourage the orderly development of land resources within their jurisdictions.
The council of any county shall prescribe
rules, regulations, and administrative procedures and provide personnel it
finds necessary to enforce this section and any ordinance enacted in accordance
with this section. The ordinances may be
enforced by appropriate fines and penalties, civil or criminal, or by court
order at the suit of the county or the owner or owners of real estate directly
affected by the ordinances.
Any civil fine or penalty provided by
ordinance under this section may be imposed by the district court, or by the
zoning agency after an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to chapter 91. The proceeding shall not be a prerequisite
for any injunctive relief ordered by the circuit court.
Nothing in this section shall invalidate
any zoning ordinance or regulation adopted by any county or other agency of
government pursuant to the statutes in effect prior to July 1, 1957.
The powers granted herein shall be
liberally construed in favor of the county exercising them, and in such a
manner as to promote the orderly development of each county or city and county
in accordance with a long-range, comprehensive general plan to ensure the
greatest benefit for the State as a whole.
This section shall not be construed to limit or repeal any powers of any
county to achieve these ends through zoning and building regulations, except
insofar as forest and water reserve zones are concerned and as provided in
subsections (c) and (d).
Neither this section nor any ordinance
enacted pursuant to this section shall prohibit the continued lawful use of any
building or premises for any trade, industrial, residential, agricultural, or
other purpose for which the building or premises is used at the time this
section or the ordinance takes effect; provided that a zoning ordinance may
provide for elimination of nonconforming uses as the uses are discontinued, or
for the amortization or phasing out of nonconforming uses or signs over a
reasonable period of time in commercial, industrial, resort, and apartment
zoned areas only. In no event shall such
amortization or phasing out of nonconforming uses apply to any existing
building or premises used for residential (single-family or duplex) or
agricultural uses. Nothing in this
section shall affect or impair the powers and duties of the director of
transportation as set forth in chapter 262.
(b)
Any final order of a zoning agency established under this section may be
appealed to the circuit court of the circuit in which the land in question is
found. The appeal shall be in accordance
with the Hawaii rules of civil procedure.
(c)
Each county may adopt reasonable standards to allow the construction of
two single-family dwelling units on any lot where a residential dwelling unit
is permitted.
(d)
Neither this section nor any other law, county ordinance, or rule shall
prohibit group living in facilities with eight or fewer residents for purposes
or functions that are licensed, certified, registered, or monitored by the
State; provided that a resident manager or a resident supervisor and the
resident manager's or resident supervisor's family shall not be included in this
resident count. These group living
facilities shall meet all applicable county requirements not inconsistent with
the intent of this subsection, including but not limited to building height,
setback, maximum lot coverage, parking, and floor area requirements.
(e)
Neither this section nor any other law, county ordinance, or rule shall
prohibit the use of land for employee housing and community buildings in
plantation community subdivisions as defined in section 205-4.5(a)(12); in
addition, no zoning ordinance shall provide for the elimination, amortization,
or phasing out of plantation community subdivisions as a nonconforming use.
(f)
Neither this section nor any other law, county ordinance, or rule shall
prohibit the use of land for medical cannabis production centers or medical cannabis
dispensaries established and licensed pursuant to chapter 329D; provided that
the land is otherwise zoned for agriculture, manufacturing, or retail purposes.
(g) Neither this section nor any other law, county
ordinance, or rule shall prohibit the use of land for the block-level upzoning program
pursuant to section 46- ; provided that the land is located within an
urban district as classified by the state land use commission."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Block-level Upzoning Program; Housing Density; Counties; Homeowners
Description:
Authorizes counties to establish a block-level upzoning program to allow homeowners within a block located in an urban district to vote to increase the housing density for their respective block.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.