City and County of Honolulu planning

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Categories: Planning in Hawaii | City and County of Honolulu planning

Overview

Private land use in Hawaii is highly regulated by a dual system of state and county laws. There are also federal laws that affect land use, such as wetland protection. Federal lands (such as the national parks) are not covered by state and county land use laws. [1]

State land use classifications

All land in Hawaii is classified into one of four classifications:

Conservation
Agricultural
Rural
Urban

The boundaries were initially set by the State Land Use Commission (LUC), a body of nine members appointed by the Governor. Changes to the boundaries can be done by ordinance of the County Council for areas of 15 acres or less, otherwise, the LUC must approve changes by a 6-3 vote. Only the LUC can take land out of the Conservation District. Typically, boundary amendments are initiated by landowner application and reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but the law also allows the state to conduct a periodic boundary review. [2]

Conservation District

Except for land that is also in the Special Management Area (SMA), as explained in more detail below, the Conservation District is solely under State jurisdiction. The Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has administrative responsibility over the Conservation District. [3]

Agricultural District

The County administers the Agricultural District within the framework of the State land use law. State law and LUC rules limit uses in the agricultural district, most of them relating to agriculture, including mills and other processing facilities, but allowing some non-agricultural uses such as wind energy facilities.

On lots created by subdivisions approved after June 4, 1976, homes are supposed to be “farm dwellings”, or otherwise accessory to agriculture, but in pre-June 4, 1976 subdivisions the homes can be “singlefamily dwellings.”

Lot sizes for subdivisions in the Agricultural District are set by the County Council through zoning, but must be at least one acre by state law.

The “special permit” process potentially allows a wide range of other uses. A special permit can be issued for any “unusual and reasonable” use. For areas of 15 acres or less, the County Planning Commission decides the special permit. For more than 15 acres, the special permit must be approved by both the Planning Commission and the State Land Use Commission. Examples of common special permits are bed-and-breakfast operations and cell phone towers. [4]

Rural District

There are only three significant differences between the Rural District and the Agricultural District:

homes can be single-family dwellings, even on post-June 4, 1976 subdivisions,
the minimum lot size is ½ acre (with an exception to 18,500 ft2), and
since a recent change in the law in 2005, golf courses are permitted in Rural, but not in the Agricultural District (although golf courses previously built or approved by the counties in the Agricultural District remain legal.) [5]

Urban District

The urban district is entirely under county jurisdiction and uses are controlled only by county zoning. [6]

City and County of Honolulu: Department of Planning and Permitting

The Department of Planning and Permitting, Planning Division helps establish, promote, and implement long-range planning programs for Honolulu which reflect the community's values, priorities, and visions for the future. It is responsible for the framework that coordinates planned population and land use growth with supportive infrastructure improvements.

The Planning Division is responsible for maintaining and updating the Oahu General Plan, regional Development/Sustainable Communities Plans, Development Plan Land Use Annual and Biennial Reports, Special Area and Neighborhood Master Plans. The Planning Division also provides logistical support for the Mayor's Community Vision Program Support, and Research and Statistical Information related to Oahu's population, land use, and employment. [7]

External Links

Department of Planning & Permitting (City and County of Honolulu)

Ala Moana/Sheridan Community Plan

Vorsino, Mary. Ala Moana/Sheridan area wants a face-lift Honolulu Advertiser, November 28, 2006.
Gonser, James. Area's (Ala Moana/Sheridan) future undecided By James Gonser Honolulu Advertiser, January 12, 2006.

Central Oahu Sustainable Communities Plan

Ohira, Rod. Mililani residents urged to critique growth plan Honolulu Advertiser, December 5, 2005.

Del Monte 'ag lands'

Wiles, Greg. Del Monte acreage should 'stay ag land' Honolulu Advertiser, November 21, 2006.

Ewa Development Plan

Schuler buys land to build Kapolei homes -- The D.R. Horton division buys 1,600 acres and plans up to 15,000 homes for the area Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 25, 2006.
Wu, Nina. Suburbs no longer -- Traffic in bustling Kapolei already is bad and the"second city" is expected to grow even more Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 23, 2006.
Daranciang, Nelson. Home Lands project plants roots in Kapolei -- The parcel will be able to support 403 single-family homes Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 23, 2007.
OUR OPINION: Hoopili project fits goal for growth in West Oahu THE ISSUE: A developer has proposed to build a 1,600-acre housing and commercial project in Ewa.

Harris on farm zoning

- Council rebuffs Harris on farm zoning Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 15, 2004.

Honolulu City Charter and land ammendments

Moriwake, Isaac. COMMENTARY: It's people's right to use the charter to protect the land Honolulu Advertiser, April 9, 2006.
Callies, David L. COMMENTARY: Honolulu's charter not intended for land use proposals Honolulu Advertiser, April 9, 2006.

Honolulu Chinatown

- O'Leary, Kevin. Chinatown -- No Place Like It by Kevin O'Leary Honolulu Weekly, December 10, 2003.

Third-party review

Kua, Crystal. Third parties can now expedite building permits Honolulu Star-Bulletin, October 13, 2004.

Smart Growth

Kua, Crystal. Council backs taller urban high-rises Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 25, 2007.
OUR OPINION -- Building higher in urban Honolulu is a better plan THE ISSUE: A City Council resolution encourages taller structures in downtown areas. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 28, 2007.
Donovan Dela Cruz and Ann Kobayashi Multifaceted approach the best way to create more affordable homes Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 9, 2007.

Waikiki

Beginning and the end -- As Outrigger readies its massive Waikiki renewal project, many old-time businesses face being priced out of the area Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 23, 2005.
Vorsino, Mary. Can Waikiki handle growth? Honolulu Advertiser", March 10, 2008.
City must fund update to Waikiki utility plan Honolulu Advertiser", March 13, 2008.

Miscelleaneous

White, Doug. Developers follow market instead of leading it Poinography!, October 31, 2005.

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This page was last modified 22:31, 13 March 2008 by dKosopedia user Jbet777. Content is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.