The legislation amends Section 205-3.1 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, allowing county land use authorities to expedite boundary amendments without requiring state-level review for certain categories of land. This shift aims to facilitate faster approval processes for developments that commit at least 50% of their housing units to individuals and families earning up to 140% of the area median income. This is a crucial step in aligning land use regulations with the state’s overall goal to increase the availability of affordable housing.
Senate Bill 3300 aims to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis in Hawaii by providing mechanisms for counties to reclassify certain lands for housing development. The bill recognizes the urgent need for more housing units, indicating that over 64,000 additional units are needed between 2015 and 2025. By permitting counties to manage land reclassification on larger parcels (15 to 100 acres), the bill seeks to make infrastructure projects associated with these developments more economically feasible, reducing the burden that smaller projects might face in terms of infrastructure costs.
Despite the positive intent behind SB 3300, there are concerns regarding the potential for conflicts between local and state land use priorities. Some stakeholders are worried that granting additional reclassification authority to counties could lead to inconsistent development standards and zoning practices across different areas. Furthermore, there may be fear among residents that such measures could result in rapid urbanization or changes that do not consider the specific needs of local communities, especially regarding environmental impact and community values.