Despite overwhelming public testimony against this rushed and disjointed Land-Use sea-change from the most affected residents in Hawaii, the legislators quickly adopted this zoning to increase density for ALL Hawaii counties.
This was a last-minute attempt to disclose to the public about this Bill.
SOCIAL MEDIA’S FAST & EASY FALLACIES APPROACH TO PUBLIC POLICIES:
On the other hand, there was social media by interest groups circulated to those who hope for “affordable housing.” Share whatever is in your mind. No vetting needed. Ah! Creating a seismic land-use change is so simple; you do not consider all the multiplier impacts on Hawaii residents. Who cares about inviting more real estate speculators and investors to compete with local residents?
Interesting, I was warned by a California land-use planner about the trend to decimate single family and it was coming to Hawaii soon. That was about five years ago.
California pushed it and here is the recent court answer to rouge legislators who squashed single-family zoning.
April 29, 2024 3 AM PT
” A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ruled that a landmark law ending single-family-home-only zoning in California is unconstitutional, a decision that could lead to the law being invalidated in the state’s largest cities.
Judge Curtis Kin determined that Senate Bill 9 does not provide housing restricted for low-income residents and therefore cannot override state constitutional protections afforded to local zoning practices.”
CHATTER CIRCULATING AROUND
There was chatter circulating that increasing the density will pass. Rumors were circulating around that Senator Brian Schatz has met with local politicians and every one should fall in line for this “progressive” idea.
Senator Stanley Change and House Representative Luke Evlslin championed this process.
BACK TO TODAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL:
Scroll to 5:03 video of today’s hearing at the House of Representatives. (By the way, these hearings do not appear on the Olelo Public Access Television anymore. It’s on the Capitol’s own channel that requires ONLINE capabilities. Many residents, especially the kupuna sector, are not connected.)
April 26, 2024, the Committee Report said it has a FULL & FREE discussion. But it doesn’t say that the merits and the demerits were fully and freely discussed and analyzed.
Hawaii Residents should not have to spend time trying to explain and convince the decision makers that SB3202 is problematic and deficient.
Lawmakers must disclose such seismic land-use hijacking to their most-affected constituents first. So far, it’s been a well-kept secret. But the rush is on to adopt this bill.
This STATE bill subverts COUNTY HOME RULE. It’s the Counties which manage and enforce the Land-Use Comprehensive Plans or Community Plans and so on. These plans requires public hearings and public participation. These processes take months and years.
Senator Stanley Chang from Oahu and Representative Luke Evslin sponsored SB3202 and HB1630. They expect to adopt this within four short months with hardly any public participation or disclosures. They’re both on the ballot this year.
Long-story short, the bills upends Hawaii’s residential landed properties zoned Residential 3.5, Residential 5, Residential 7.5, Residential 10, Country in the name of “affordable housing” :
To allow a dwelling on every 2,000 square feet of land.
To allow subdivision of these 2,000 square feet of land.
It’s that “simple”. If they are allowed to subdivide and build, they can “keep families together” and fill the “missingMiddle” gap, so the supporters say.
Read the written testimonies submitted by the usual development lobbyists, non-profits, building industries and related commerce. The supporters this time around included Real Estate Escrow Company, a Aloha Shirt Company and so on. It’s a view into who’s connected to who in Hawaii.
When a small segment of the public caught wind of it, there are more opinions from the frontline and the most affected. It’s interesting to scroll down. There are some very thoughtful insights and warnings. But they do not appear to cause some legislators to pause and think deeper.
This is the video of the April 1, 2024 hearing on SB3202. It’s understandable to expect special interests lobby for their own industry or personal interests.
But it’s alarming to see those in public offices not thoughtfully and dutifully represent the public interests i.e. Hawaii’s residents.
One example: Scroll to 1:49 to listen for a few minutes to this Hawaii County Planner. He obviously disses the elected Hawaii County Council but claims “I’m very much a Home Rule guy.” Who hired this guy?
There is whole lot more to discuss. But here’s an extremely brief poster about SB3202. It’s alarming that taxpayers will always be responsible for crappy malfeasance if the legislators push this Bill through on May 1, 2024.
I urge you to speak up. You have to protect yourself and your own future in Hawaii.
EMAIL and tell them your opinions. Or simply say “OPPOSE HAMMAJANG SB3202”.
