THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

119

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED LAND USE PLAN.

 

 


     WHEREAS, there are various, sometimes-competing state plans, goals, and objectives regarding land use in the State, including the need for land to increase food sustainability, promote renewable energy resources, address the shortage of affordable housing, and adapt to and mitigate sea level rise and climate change; and

 

     WHEREAS, a limited amount of land exists to meet these different plans, goals, and objectives; and

 

     WHEREAS, numerous climate-change, food-sustainability, affordable-housing, and renewable-energy targets have been enacted by the State, including developing at least 22,500 affordable rental housing units; doubling food production; increasing food exports; requiring the generation of all electricity from renewable sources; sequestering more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases; requiring all state and county facilities to use reclaimed water; and mandating the upgrade of all cesspools; and

 

     WHEREAS, an integrated land use plan would help to address these various, sometimes-competing state plans, goals, and objectives, particularly with respect to agriculture, energy, and housing; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Land Use Commission have the expertise to develop an integrated land use plan; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Land Use Commission are requested to develop an integrated land use plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Sustainability Coordinator of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development is requested to lead the development of the integrated land use plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the integrated land use plan incorporate various existing studies and information to serve as a guide for the State's planning and decision-making on agriculture, energy, and housing; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the integrated land use plan include the following:

 

     (1)  Land use data that can be used for planning and decision-making to resolve the competing uses of land within the agricultural, rural, and urban districts;

 

     (2)  An analysis of the amount and types of agricultural lands needed to meet the State's food-sustainability goals;

 

     (3)  An analysis of the amount and types of lands needed to meet the State's renewable-energy goals;

 

     (4)  An analysis of the amount of land that can be used to meet the State's affordable-housing goals; and

 

     (5)  Recommendations on the amount of land and general location of areas needed to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of sea level rise and climate change; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Land Use Commission are requested to submit the integrated land use plan, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature by December 1, 2026; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development is requested to report on the progress of the integrated land use plan and the progress of data-based estimates to achieve this Resolution's objectives to the Legislature and Land Use Commission by December 1, 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development is requested to update and report on the integrated land use study to the Legislature and Land Use Commission every five years; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that funding is requested to conduct the integrated land use study, which would necessitate an amendment to the state budget that allocates $500,000 to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development in fiscal year 2024-2025 for:

 

     (1)  Two Planner V (2.0 FTE) positions;

 

     (2)  One Secretary III (1.0 FTE) position; and

 

     (3)  Resources including computers and office supplies, travel, and other expenses; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Chair of the Land Use Commission.


 

Report Title: 

Integrated Land Use Plan; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Land Use Commission