VICE CHAIR ESTHER KIAʻĀINA ISSUES STATEMENT ON REINTRODUCTION OF BILL RELATING TO THE LAND USE ORDINANCE
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI - On November 28, 2023, Vice Chair Esther Kiaʻāina introduced Bill 64 (2023), a reintroduction of Bill 10 (2022), which would update Article 5 of the City’s Land Use Ordinance (LUO) relating to land uses. The LUO regulates land use in the City and County of Honolulu and encourages orderly development and activities in accordance with adopted land use policies, including the Oʻahu general plan and regional development and sustainable communities plans, while safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare of the community.
Due to the extensive nature of the land use law and the Council’s commitment to stakeholder and community input and dialogue, the reintroduction of Bill 10 (2022) is important for the Honolulu City Council to continue the discussion on the City’s effort to update its Land Use Ordinance, which was last updated over 30 years ago.
As required by the two year filing deadline that applies to all City Council bills, Bill 64 (2023) consists of the last draft of Bill 10 (2022) adopted by the full Council at its hearing on September 7, 2022. For consideration at the upcoming full Council meeting on December 6, 2023, Vice Chair has also proposed a floor draft of Bill 64 (2023), which reflects the cumulative changes made to Bill 10 (2022) up to the last time the bill was considered by the Planning and the Economy (P&E) Committee at its meeting on May 25, 2023. This floor draft includes all amendments approved by the City Council since the introduction of Bill 10 (2022) on February 3, 2022.
In 2023, the Planning the Economy Committee approved modifications to the Industrial Use and Commercial Use categories, and will be considering modifications to the Public, Civic, and Institutional, Residential, Agricultural, and Miscellaneous Use categories in 2024.
Vice Chair has issued the following statement on Bill 64 (2023):
“Bill 64 (2023) is an important step toward updating our land use policies in a way that reflects the community’s current values, changing needs, while also striving for consistency with the Oʻahu General Plan and regional development and sustainable communities plans. The reintroduction was needed in order to continue the public engagement process and provide input into the City’s updated land use regulations. As we move forward with this bill, the Council is committed to an inclusive and transparent process, ensuring stakeholder and community voices are heard and considered. At the end, this is about Honolulu’s economic vitality and shaping a sustainable and vibrant future for the people of Oʻahu.”
Next steps after reintroduction of Bill 64 (2023):
Bill 64 (2023) and the proposed FD is anticipated to be heard at the full Council meeting on December 6, 2023.
The Planning & the Economy Committee anticipates holding an informational briefing on Bill 64 (2023) and next steps at its regularly scheduled meeting on January 11, 2023.
The first committee meeting on Bill 64 (2023) will be on the Residential Use category on February 8, 2024.
Subsequent hearings on the Public, Civic, and Institutional Use category, followed by Agricultural Use and Miscellaneous Use categories will start in April or May 2024.
For more information on Bill 64 (2023), please visit (www.honolulucitycouncil.org/bill10).
Vice Chair Kiaʻāina represents City Council District 3, which includes ʻĀhuimanu, Heʻeia, Haʻikū, Kāneʻohe, Maunawili, Kailua, Olomana, Enchanted Lake and Waimānalo.
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