STAND. COM. REP. NO.  536

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 939

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 939 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to balance the increased cost of development and streamlining the permit process with the need to protect the environment.

 

     This bill increases the valuation of developments that require special management area (SMA) minor permits to $250,000 to reflect the increase in the costs of construction, while maintaining the protection of the environment.

 

     Currently, an SMA minor permit is required for a development:

 

     (1)  With a valuation not in excess of $125,000; and

 

     (2)  With no substantial adverse environmental or ecological impacts.

 

     Developments with greater valuations or that may have substantial adverse environmental or ecological impacts require SMA use permits.

 

     Hawaiian Telcom, Maui Contractors Association, and several individuals testified in support of this bill.  An individual supported this bill with amendments.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, and an individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and two individuals offered comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that this threshold was last adjusted in 1991.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 939 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

 

 

		____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair