Requesting The Counties To Amend Or Adopt An Ordinance To Allow Religious Institutions, Educational Institutions, Or Medical Institutions To Develop Residential Units On Parcels That Meet Certain Conditions.
The proposed resolution seeks to leverage the counties' existing zoning powers, encouraging them to facilitate the construction of residential units within urban land use districts that are already zoned for residential or commercial use. According to the resolution, any new development would be limited to parcels no larger than fifteen acres and would require that the units remain under the ownership of the respective institutions as long as they are operational. This could significantly alter state laws regarding land use and zoning, creating new pathways for housing development in communities facing pressing housing challenges.
H.R. 102, presented in the Thirty-second Legislature of Hawaii in 2024, addresses the critical housing shortage in the state by requesting local counties to amend or adopt ordinances allowing certain institutions to develop residential units. Specifically, the bill targets religious institutions, educational institutions, and medical institutions, empowering them to construct residential units on their properties as a means to alleviate housing pressures and expand diversity in the housing market. This initiative aims to keep long-standing residents in Hawaii by providing affordable housing options and preventing displacement due to rising costs.
There are potential points of contention surrounding H.R. 102, particularly regarding the balance between local governmental authority and state-level resolutions. Critics may argue that this approach reduces local control, preventing communities from fully assessing the implications of introducing new housing developments on institutional properties. Additionally, there may be concerns that developers could exploit this resolution to circumvent traditional land-use processes by establishing institutions solely for development purposes rather than community service. The resolution aims to clarify that the intent is not to allow circumvention of actual development processes, but apprehensions about enforcement and oversight may linger.