Affordable Housing and Agricultural Land Restrictions Before Zoning Committee at City Council

The Honolulu City Council’s Zoning Committee will consider two interesting land use issues at its February 5, 2008 meeting.

First, RESOLUTION 08-8, proposes an ordinance that will increase minimum lot sizes on AG zoned land and require a conditional use permit minor before building a farm dwelling. Also, the land would have to be farmed for a few years before application for the CUP. The bill is intended to stave off gentleman's farms.

Second, the Committee will consider a comprehensive report by the Department of Planning and Permitting which analyzes the Council’s affordable housing proposals. In short, the DPP does not recommend the Council’s proposals; because the proposals have conflicting entitlement mechanisms and the City’s implementation of HRS § 201H-38 and unilateral agreements are effective.