Saturday, November 2, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Sunday, October 27, 2024
Restoring old Lahaina won’t be possible without zoning changes
By Grassroot Institute @ 1:44 AM :: 356 Views :: Maui County, Development

Restoring old Lahaina won’t be possible without zoning changes

from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Maui County Council Housing and Land Use Committee on Oct. 23, 2024.
_____________

Oct. 23, 2024, 9 a.m.
Council Chamber, Kalana O Maui Building

To: Maui County Council, Housing and Land Use Committee
Tasha Kama, Chair
Tom Cook, Vice-Chair

From: Jonathan Helton, Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

RE: Bill 105 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 19.500.110, MAUI COUNTY CODE, REGARDING NONCONFORMITIES

Aloha Chair Kama, Vice-Chair Cook and other members of the Committee,

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 105 (2024), which would modify how nonconforming structures and uses can be rebuilt or restored after being destroyed by a natural disaster.

In particular, the bill would provide a five-year window during which nonconforming structures and uses could be restored, under certain conditions. The Maui planning director could extend that window an additional two years if the building owner were to demonstrate good cause that the extra time is necessary.

The Maui County Code currently requires that any structure 50% or more destroyed must be rebuilt under existing zoning codes, with limited exceptions for historic properties and certain multifamily dwellings. Likewise, nonconforming uses cannot be restored in a structure if they have been discontinued for 12 or more consecutive months.[1]

These standards obviously present a major challenge to Maui residents attempting to rebuild the devastating wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023.

For example, restoring Lahaina’s community-focused and walkable town center will not be possible without zoning changes such as the ones proposed in this bill.

After Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in 1992, the Kauai County Council adopted an ordinance similar to this bill to foster the reconstruction of nonconforming structures and reinstitution of nonconforming uses.[2]

Grassroot’s recent policy brief, “Six ways to speed up the recovery and rebuilding of Lahaina,” addresses Bill 105 (2024) in detail and discusses other strategies the Council could use to reduce barriers to rebuilding in Lahaina.

We would welcome further dialogue about this issue.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Jonathan Helton
Policy Researcher
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
_____________

[1] Kate Blystone, “A Bill For an Ordinance Amending Section 19.500.110, Maui County Code, Regarding Nonconformities,” Memo to the Maui, Molokai and Lanai Planning Commissions, Feb. 21, 2024.
[2]Iniki exceptions OK’d by Council,” Honolulu Advertiser, Feb. 11, 1993.

 

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii