In bid to address years-old housing crunch, new laws will force counties to ease density, zoning rules

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - State and federal leaders on Tuesday hailed the approval of new laws they say will generate thousands of affordable homes for Hawaii residents, including a controversial requirement that counties allow more units on residential lots.

The leaders say the character of some established neighborhoods must change to solve the housing crisis. The bill requiring counties to allow two additional units on every residential property is the most controversial of the bills, but the package also includes other big changes.

The chairs of the Senate and House Housing Committee withstood opposition from county leaders to pass the bills, which they said change the environment for housing in Hawaii.

“Change is coming. The tide is turning,” said Senate Housing Chair Stanley Chang.

“So very soon you will see a ton more housing being built just for you local people,”

“This package of bills represents the most important housing regulatory reform and zoning reform, passed by the Legislature in probably over 40 years,” said House Housing Chair Luke Evslin.

The six bills signed Tuesday force the counties to rewrite key regulations that onlooker says have choked off new housing. The measures require easing the process to convert office and commercial buildings into housing and increase density in apartment districts.

Also under the measure, owners will be able to to build up to two accessory dwelling units on lots.

U.S. Sen Brian Schatz was at the bill signing event with a challenge: He urged residents to get ready for more housing in your neighborhood — even if won’t be as pretty. “That housing has to go somewhere,” he said. “Some things matter more than aesthetics of your neighborhood.”

Some neighborhoods will still be protected from change —like Mililani and other planned communities with strict rules against ohana units or ADUs. Others won’t have enough wastewater, traffic or other infrastructure for growth.

Gov. Josh Green predicted older and less dense areas will see the most impact.

“Neighbor islands I think will see growth,” Green said, adding Maui will be among the counties most impacted. “And that’s good that’s healthy they have more space.”

If a county refuses to ease restrictions, the state law will override their rules.

Honolulu Councilmember Tyler Delos Santos Tam observed the signing ceremony from a seat in the governor’s ceremonial office and said he was committed to making the changes work

“The state is telling the counties if you don’t do this the state law is going to prevail,” he said. “Which is why it’s incumbent on the counties to figure out how to do this in a reasonable way — a way that’s not disruptive in a way that’s going to make sense for each individual neighborhood.”

Officials said the bills signed Tuesday aren’t an instant fix.

Most of them give the counties years to comply with the new laws.

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