STAND. COM. REP. NO. 45-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1751

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1751 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RURAL DISTRICTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase housing opportunities by allowing the counties to determine by ordinance the appropriateness of allowing dwellings on each quarter-acre, rather than each half-acre, of lands in rural districts; provided the ordinances are consistent with the county general plan and community development plans.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association of REALTORS and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that under state law, counties may, by ordinance, allow dwellings on each one-half acre in rural districts. Given the shortage of housing in Hawaii, counties should be permitted to determine whether to allow one dwelling per one-quarter acre; provided that the dwelling is consistent with the county general plan and community development plan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1751, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair