|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1837 |
|
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to housing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Yes In My Backyard Act".
SECTION 2. The legislature finds that the Measuring Housing Demand in Hawaii, 2015-2025 report published by the department of business, economic development, and tourism in March 2015 finds that, based in part on the State's population growth, the projected statewide demand for residential housing was between 64,700 and 66,000 units. Although the department finds that population growth in the State has slowed since the 2015 report, in the Hawaii Housing Demand: 2020-2030 report, published in December 2019, the department still projects that an additional 36,155 units will be needed between 2020 and 2030.
The legislature further finds that "yes in my backyard" legislation, aimed at increasing housing by reducing administrative barriers and encouraging the adoption of more flexible zoning and regulatory policies, has been enacted in Oregon and California. Similar legislation aimed at increasing transparency and tracking discriminatory land use policies was co-introduced on the federal level by Senator Brian Schatz in May 2021.
The purpose of this Act is to encourage the counties to adopt zoning and regulatory policies that allow for greater housing opportunities for residents at all income levels by requiring an annual report to the legislature on the counties' efforts in reducing or removing certain regulatory barriers.
SECTION 3. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§46- Yes
in my backyard; removing barriers to housing development. (a)
Each county shall submit a
report to the legislature on how
the county has provided greater opportunities for residents at all income levels
to obtain housing by reducing or removing regulatory or zoning barriers to housing.
The report shall include the county's efforts
in the following areas:
(1) Allowance of multifamily
development in retail and commercial zones;
(2) Conversion of office
units and commercial space to apartments and multifamily uses;
(3) Promotion of a range
of housing types in areas zoned for single family homes;
(4) Reducing minimum
lot size for housing uses;
(5) Streamlining the
permit process and timelines;
(6) Establishing density
bonuses; and
(7) Conversion of vacant
or underutilized county land for affordable housing.
(b) The report shall be submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session beginning with the regular session of 2023."
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
Counties; Zoning; Housing; Yes In My Backyard; Report
Description:
Requires each county to provide an annual report to the legislature on the county's efforts at reducing zoning and regulatory barriers to housing development.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.