Land Use Commission

From dKosopedia

Category: Planning in Hawaii

The Hawaii State Land Use Commission administers the State Land Use Law. The LUC is made up of nine appointed members. The Commission establishes the district boundaries for the entire State. The Commission acts on petitions for boundary changes submitted by private landowners, developers and State and county agencies. The Commission also acts on requests for special use permits within the Agricultural and Rural Districts. The Commission ensures that state concerns delineated in the Hawaii State Plan are addressed and considered in the land use decision-making process. See Hawaii land use planning.

In 1961, the Hawaii State Legislature determined that a lack of adequate controls had caused the development of Hawaii’s limited and valuable land for short-term gain for the few while resulting in long-term loss to the income and growth potential of our State’s economy. Development of scattered subdivisions, creating problems of expensive yet reduced public services, and the conversion of prime agricultural land to residential use, were key reasons for establishing the state-wide zoning system. [1]

The Land Use Commission as described on eGov:

The Land Use Commission works with the State Legislature, County Planning Departments, interest groups and landowners to define constitutionally mandated standards and criteria for protecting important agricultural lands in the State of Hawaii. The Commission also engages the county planning departments in enhancing and clarifying the special permit process in the Agricultural Land Use District. The Land Use Commission is also working to establishing data warehouses with the county planning departments with respect to storage and retrieval of land use data; and developing cooperative memorandum-of-understanding with the University of Hawaii Department of Urban and Regional Planning with respect to planning practicum and faculty consultation. [2]

The Commission is composed of nine members, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. One member is appointed from each of the four counties. Five members are appointed at-large. Commissioners are non-paid volunteers who represent a cross-section of the community. The nine members of the Land Use Commission are:

• Randall F. Sakumoto, Esq. Chairperson (Oahu)
• Lisa M. Judge Vice-Chair (Maui)
• Steven Lee Montgomery, Ph.D. Vice-Chair (At-Large)
• Duane Kanuha, (Hawaii)
• Thomas Contrades (Kauai)
• Michael D. Formby, Esq. (At-Large)
• Kyong-Su Im, Esq. (At-Large)
• Ransom A.K. Piltz (At-Large)

External Links

• Planning in Hawaii American Planning Association, Hawai`i Chapter.
• Land Use Commission State of Hawaii.
• Borreca, Richard. The role of the Land Use Commission Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 16, 1998.
• Youn, Jacy. Breaking New Ground -- Fixing Hawaii's Land-Use Process Hawaii Business, February 2004.
• Ariyoshi, George. Stewardship of the Land Hawaii Business, February 2004.
• Borreca, Richard. Lingle wants counties involved in ag land designation Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 27, 2004.
• Thompson, Dave. The Battle of Koa Ridge Honolulu Weekly, September 22, 2003.
• Sierra Club wins battle of Koa Ridge Pacific Business News, September 25, 2003.
• Thompson, Rod. Kona site told to get land use approval – Opposing lawyers of the Hokulia case predict more appeals Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 25, 2004.
• Thompson, Rod. Group sought $50M to settle, developer says – A lawsuit was intended to stop construction of the Big Island’s Hokulia luxury community Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 4, 2004.
• Associated Press. Hokulia construction ban upheld by judge Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 10, 2004.
• Barayuga, Debra. Hokulia’s halt questioned -- A developer appeals to the state high court to repeal a decision blocking construction Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 19, 2004.
• Flickinger, Reed. Hokulia could bankrupt county West Hawaii Today, February 23, 2005.
• Carlton, Jim. Land-Use Ruling Shakes Hawaii Real Estate Wall Street Journal article in Real Estate Journal West, July 6, 2005.
• Monson, Valerie. Debate on ag lands sharply limited by LUC Maui News, July 7, 2005.
• Hokulia owners prepare to sue county, state Pacific Business Journal, July 11, 2005.
• Hokulia Update Oceanside Partners.
• Star-Bulletin staff. $1 billion development in Waikoloa gets approved Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 1, 2005.
• Eagar, Harry. LUC questions affordable numbers Maui News, December 3, 2005.
• Leone, Diana. Bridge Aina Lea insists it will meet its deadline -- The land-use panel doubts the builder's progress on homes Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 5, 2007.