STAND. COM. REP. NO.  684-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2522

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2522 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote smart growth in the growth and development of land by:

(1)  Increasing the size of land for which a land use district boundary amendment petition for rural, urban, and non-important agricultural lands agricultural district lands may be filed with the county from 15 acres to 50 acres; and

(2)  Extending the authority of the county land use decision-making authority to consolidate their boundary amendment proceedings with other county proceedings to amend land use maps contained in a county general plan, county community, development, or community development plan.

     The Office of Planning, City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaii Association of REALTORS supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and several concerned individuals opposed this bill.  The University of Hawaii Environmental Center and Life of the Land provided comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2522 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture,

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair