Honolulu Committee on Zoning and Planning Meeting – April 2, 2026
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Honolulu Committee on Zoning and Planning Meeting – April 2, 2026
The Committee on Zoning and Planning, chaired by Councilmember Kia Aina, met on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 9:01 a.m. Members present included Vice Chair Waters, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Okimoto, and Councilmember Tupola (participating remotely). The committee considered an appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals, two bills, a resolution for a shoreline development permit, and a review of the Planning Commission. Key outcomes included approval of the appointment, deferral of a pedestrian mall bill, approval of a major shoreline permit with amendments, and advancement of a gray water reuse incentive bill.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill 48 (2025) – Pedestrian Malls: K. Cole McClellan, representing the Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii, expressed appreciation for downtown revitalization efforts and proposed amendments regarding loading/unloading rights for church functions and clarifying traffic flow. He noted openness to using rulemaking instead of frequent LUO amendments. The committee acknowledged the testimony.
Discussion Items
Agenda Item 1 – Appointment to Zoning Board of Appeals (Resolution 25-56, CD1)
The committee considered the appointment of David Britton to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Initially, Mr. Britton was not present. The committee heard from Elizabeth Krieger of the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), who supported the appointment. Vice Chair Waters questioned whether the appointee understood the role’s time commitment and whether quorum issues were addressed. The chair recommended amendment to CD1 (technical corrections) and reported it for adoption. The motion passed unanimously. Later in the meeting, after agenda item 6, Mr. Britton arrived and addressed the committee. He apologized for his tardiness due to an urgent client matter, described his real estate law background, and stated his commitment to independent decision-making. Vice Chair Waters emphasized the importance of the board’s independence and the need to address a backlog of appeals, particularly related to short-term rental enforcement. Mr. Britton’s comments were noted, but the appointment had already been approved.
Agenda Item 3 (Heard before Item 2) – Bill 48 (2025) – Pedestrian Malls
Councilmember Dosantis Tam introduced a CD1 that expands Fort Street Mall by approximately 150 feet to include Chaplin Lane (rather than creating a new mall) and updates bicycle regulations to encourage safe cycling. The Department of Transportation Services (Director Roger Morton) supported the approach but noted a technical ambiguity: state law defines vehicles to include bicycles, yet the ordinance allows bicycles 10 mph while vehicles are limited to 5 mph. The director requested a technical amendment. The chair recommended deferral to allow time to address the Catholic Church’s testimony and the director’s technical issue. The motion to postpone to a date determined by the chair passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 2 – Resolution 26-43 – Special Management Area Major Permit (Libby Trust)
The resolution authorizes demolition and construction on two shoreline lots in Wailua (68-631 and 68-623 Crozier Drive). Jim Hayes (Planning Solutions Inc.) presented the project, showing two single-family dwellings per lot, wastewater systems, and landscaping. He clarified that a requested verbal amendment applied to condition G1 (archaeological resources) rather than K1. After a brief recess, the chair accepted the verbal amendment. Councilmember Cordero asked about individual wastewater systems; Mr. Hayes explained leach fields. Councilmember Okimoto asked about recent storm impacts; Mr. Hayes stated the property is in a VE flood zone and was not adversely affected, and structures are sited to avoid erosion hazards. Vice Chair Waters asked about iwi kūpuna; Mr. Hayes confirmed willingness to adjust the pool location if remains were discovered. DPP supported the amended resolution. The committee adopted the CD1 with further amendment to G1 and reported it for adoption.
Agenda Item 4 – Bill 21 (2026) – TOD Amendments (Gray Water Reuse)
The bill adds gray water reuse systems as a permitted community benefit in Transit-Oriented Development projects, allowing developers to offset height/density bonuses. It also makes conforming amendments to align interim and final permit requirements. Elizabeth Krieger (DPP) supported the bill, noting that gray water reuse reduces demand on potable water in dense areas. Councilmember Cordero asked about the Planning Commission’s review; Krieger noted the commission had no amendments but discussed the conforming amendments. Vice Chair Waters expressed strong support but raised concerns about including affordable housing as a requirement for hotel components, questioning the rationale. Tim Strides (acting TOD Administrator) explained that the provision was carried over from previous council decisions to prevent developers from labeling units as hotels to avoid affordable housing obligations. Vice Chair Waters suggested revisiting this policy separately. Chair Kia Aina asked about state health rules for gray water safety and hazardous waste contamination; Krieger confirmed state regulations exist and will be further reviewed. The committee voted to report the bill out for passage on second reading and scheduling a public hearing.
Agenda Item 5 – Council Communication 60 (2026) – Review of Planning Commission
Pani Miyatoga III, Chair of the Planning Commission, presented the commission’s report recommending retention of the charter provision establishing the commission, but recommending amendment of ROH 22-3.5 to transfer rulemaking authority for subdivision/consolidation from the commission to the DPP director. He noted quorum issues have been resolved. Vice Chair Waters asked about meeting accommodations and advertising; Chair Miyatoga stated meetings are hybrid, held on the 6th floor of the Frank Fasi building, and advertised via DPP’s newsletter and newspaper. Councilmember Okimoto inquired about the number of meetings; the chair noted varied workloads from DPP. Chair Kia Aina highlighted conflicts between the charter and ROH, supporting the amendment. No public testimony was offered. The committee voted to report the committee report and attached resolution/bill out for scheduling a public hearing and adoption.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment (Resolution 25-56, CD1): Approved and reported for adoption. Mr. Britton’s appointment was confirmed prior to his late arrival.
- Bill 48 (2025) – Pedestrian Malls: Deferred to a future date determined by the chair to address technical issues and public testimony.
- Resolution 26-43 – Shoreline Major Permit: Approved as amended (CD1 with verbal amendment to condition G1) and reported for adoption.
- Bill 21 (2026) – Gray Water Reuse in TOD: Passed on second reading and scheduled for a public hearing.
- Council Communication 60 – Planning Commission Review: Committee report and attached resolution/bill approved for scheduling of a public hearing and adoption.
(The informational briefing on short-term rental enforcement, agenda item 6, was canceled.)
Meeting Transcript
Aloha and good morning, everyone. It is Thursday, April 2nd, 2026. In the time is now 901 a.m. Will the Committee on Zoning and Planning meeting please come to order. I would like to welcome the following committee members, Committee Vice Chair Waters, Councilmember Cordero, and Councilmember Okimoto. Also joining us today is Councilmember Tupola participating remotely by video conference. Councilmember Tupola, in accordance with Section 992-3.7 Hawaii revised statutes. Please identify each person who is with you at your location. Aloha Chair, I'm here with my daughter Mora. Thank you. Thank you. Pursuant to Section 92-3.7 Hawaii revised statutes. This meeting will be conducted as a remote meeting by interactive conference technology with the following procedures in effect for the meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide verbal testimony on all items in the agenda when each item is taken up in two ways in person in the council chamber or remotely via via video conference or phone. Remote and in-person verbal testimony will be allowed when the agenda item is taken up. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, Section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section 113 of the Hawaii revised statutes. Members of the public may testify in either language for verbal testimonies offered in Olelo, Hawaii. Additional time as may be necessary will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. Before testifying, each person shall state their name for the record. Each speaker may not have anyone else read their statement and would be limited to a one-minute presentation per item. All persons who register to testify in person will be called upon first. Persons who have not registered will be given an opportunity to speak following the verbal testimonies of the registered speakers. Once all the in-person testifiers have testified, I will proceed to the remote testifiers. When your name is called, please monitor your screen and activate your audio feed when prompted. I would then give persons who have not registered an opportunity to offer testimony. Please utilize the raise hand feature in Zoom to be called upon. For those who are joining us by telephone only, please press star nine to indicate your desire to speak. Some friendly reminders and tips. The CD1 makes technical amendments, including correcting an error in the expiration date of the appointee's term and referencing the mayor's message number. The zoning board of appeals consists of five members. The board hears and determines appeals from the actions of the director of the Department of Planning and Permitting in the administration of the zoning ordinances and subdivision ordinances. I would like to call upon the appointee to say a few words. Could you please introduce yourself and share a little about your envisioned role on the zoning board of appeals? Is Mr. Britton not here? Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony, proceeding first with in-person testimony in the chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers? Chair, there are none. Is there anyone else in the chamber who would like to testify? Seeing none, uh, are there any remote testifiers? Chair, there are none. For the department. We have uh Liz Krieger. Good morning, Chair Kia Aina and Vice Chair Waters and Committee members. I'm Elizabeth Krieger with the Department of Planning and Permitting. Uh we support uh the CD1. Uh we appreciate Mr. Britton's service and uh we support his recommended appointment. Thank you. Are there any questions?
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