SR 132: REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT FLEXIBLE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS or ESTABLISH variance procedures FOR STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO ENHANCE LAND USE EFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY.

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT FLEXIBLE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS or ESTABLISH variance procedures FOR STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO ENHANCE LAND USE EFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY.

     WHEREAS, setback requirements, which mandate minimum distances between structures and property lines, are established to ensure safety, privacy, and aesthetic standards in urban planning; and

     WHEREAS, the State is committed to optimizing the use of public lands to serve the community effectively; and

     WHEREAS, strict adherence to uniform setback requirements may limit the State's ability to develop or renovate public buildings and facilities in a manner that maximizes land use efficiency; and

     WHEREAS, other jurisdictions have implemented flexible setback policies or granted variances to accommodate the unique needs of public buildings, thereby promoting greater density and more efficient use of public resources; and

     WHEREAS, this flexibility can lead to improved public service delivery by allowing state facilities to be more appropriately sized and located; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the counties are requested to adopt flexible setback requirements or establish variance procedures for state buildings and facilities to enhance land use efficiency and public service delivery; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayors and Chairpersons of the County Councils of the Counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title:

County; Counties; Setback

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT FLEXIBLE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO ENHANCE LAND USE EFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY.

     WHEREAS, setback requirements, which mandate minimum distances between structures and property lines, are established to ensure safety, privacy, and aesthetic standards in urban planning; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is committed to optimizing the use of public lands to serve the community effectively; and

     WHEREAS, strict adherence to uniform setback requirements may limit the State's ability to develop or renovate public buildings and facilities in a manner that maximizes land use efficiency; and

     WHEREAS, other jurisdictions have implemented flexible setback policies or granted variances to accommodate the unique needs of public buildings, thereby promoting greater density and more efficient use of public resources; and

     WHEREAS, this flexibility can lead to improved public service delivery by allowing state facilities to be more appropriately sized and located; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the counties are requested to adopt flexible setback requirements or establish variance procedures specifically for state buildings and facilities to enhance land use efficiency and public service delivery; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this measure be transmitted to the mayors and chairs of the county councils of the Counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title:

County; Counties; Setback

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1585

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 132

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 132 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT FLEXIBLE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO ENHANCE LAND USE EFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the counties to adopt flexible setback requirements or establish variance procedures for state buildings and facilities to enhance land use efficiency and public service delivery.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and one individual.

     Your Committees find that the State is committed to optimizing the use of public lands to serve the community effectively.  Your Committees further find that flexible setback policies or variances that accommodate the unique needs of public buildings can promote greater density and more efficient use of public resources.  According to testimony received by your Committees, because land costs in Hawaii can easily top $2 million for relatively small commercial or industrial lots, it should be a priority of the State to get the most value out of taxpayer dollars when building or renovating its buildings.  This measure can help state facilities be more appropriately sized and located, thereby leading to improved public service delivery.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending its title; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 132, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 132, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations,