Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Up Tomorrow: Smart Growth Task Force

The Smart Growth Task Force, chaired by Rep. Sharon Har, meets tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Rm. 309. The group has been working through various issues to craft legislation that encourages all stakeholders - including the State, counties, Land Use Commission, and private developers - to work together to coordinate smart growth, rather than create legislation with a top-down management approach.

The goal is legislation for improved land use, more open spaces, compact urban areas, more affordable housing, decreased infrastructure costs, and other projects that use smart growth principles.

The last meeting included representatives from Alexander & Baldwin, Castle & Cooke Hawaii, the Hawaii Association of Realtors, Hawaii Community Development Authority, the DoE, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, KSBE, Kapolei Property Development, Ko Olina / Princeville, the Land Use Commission, Maui County Planning Department and the Office of the Governor.

Here are some things that were discussed at the last meeting in September:

- Expedited permitting or review process for projects considered "smart growth"
- Criteria for "smart growth"?
- Third-party review of projects
- Different kinds of development
- County-drawn boundary review
- Smart growth design standards for Hawaii schools
- General role of government in promoting smart growth

This is a public hearing, but no public testimony will be accepted. Click here for the hearing notice.

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