Urging The City And County Of Honolulu And Developers To Coordinate Their Infrastructure Plans And Collaborate With Stakeholders To Ensure Adequate Infrastructure Be In Place Prior To Building New Housing Developments.
The need for coordinated infrastructure planning is critical, especially given the rising demand for housing, with Hawaii experiencing a shortage of approximately 50,000 units. The resolution points out that previous development contracts awarded by the City and County of Honolulu lack foresight, resulting in inadequate infrastructure that fails to meet community needs. This lack of planning has further exacerbated the housing crisis, delaying housing options for residents.
HCR53 urges the City and County of Honolulu, alongside developers, to coordinate their infrastructure planning and ensure adequate infrastructure before undertaking new housing developments. The resolution highlights the significant challenges the state faces due to its inadequate infrastructure, which received a D+ rating from the American Society of Civil Engineers. This rating underscores long-standing issues such as aging infrastructure that has often been used beyond its intended lifespan and a lack of systematic funding to address these problems.
HCR53 serves as a strategic recommendation to address the intertwined issues of infrastructure inadequacy and housing shortages in Hawaii. By emphasizing preemptive measures for infrastructure readiness before housing developments occur, the resolution seeks to enhance the quality of life for residents and support the state's long-term growth objectives.
While the resolution does not impose regulatory changes, it serves as a call to action to both local authorities and developers to prioritize collaborative efforts in infrastructure planning. Notable concerns arise from past practices where developers have proceeded with construction without ensuring necessary infrastructure upgrades, potentially leading to stretched resources and poor living conditions for new residents. The call for collaboration aims to prevent further issues and is pivotal for sustainable urban development.