Proposed Position Statement on Planning & Zoning
THE GENERAL PLAN
The League of Women Voters of Honolulu believes that planning for the City & County of Honolulu should include the following steps:
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A statement of objectives and policies to guide the development of Oahu. The objectives and policies should embrace population size and distribution, social, economic, environmental and physical factors and their interrelationships.
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An overall physical development plan for Oahu, made within the framework of the objectives and policies, and which shows how. the objectives and policies will be carried out (in physical terms.)
It should deal with city-wide elements of a general plan such as: location of future areas of industry, housing, resort development, major educational and recreational areas, open space, etc; mass transit modes and routes, location of highways, ports, airports, warehouse areas; water, drainage, and waste disposal systems; power-generating and transmission facilities.
Area development plans, which are based on the overall city development plan, but which deal in greater detail with the various regions of the island.
ZONING
The objectives and policies of the Honolulu General Plan must be translated into workable development controls if they are to have any meaning.
Population capacity and densities permitted by the Comprehensive Zoning Code should be based on the population objectives set forth in the General Plan.
The Comprehensive Zoning Code of 1969 was based on expected population growth far higher than now thought likely of desirable Reduction across-the-board of densities permitted by the present CZC's excessively permissive regulations should be effected by Council amendment of the CAC text, even while work continues on the General Plan and the area development plans. This should be followed as quickly as possible by general revision of the zoning text, and by zoning map amendments bringing the permitted uses and densities in specific areas into line with the objectives and policies of the Plan.
Special area controls such as Historic-Cultural-Scenic Districts, Special Design Districts, and Planned Developments are not a substitute for sound city-wide zoning controls geared to area development plans and the General Plan.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING
Government should encourage citizen input early in the planning process by:
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Making pertinent material, relevant data, and alternatives available to the public for study and comment;
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holding public meetings, workshops, and hearings early enough in the process so that citizen input can be effectively incorporated into the plant
sending adequate notice by letter to interested citizens and organizations of when and where meetings will be held.
Adequate funding for citizen information and participation should be included in the budget for every planning program. (Money should be budgeted for the printing and distribution of materials, and for the conduct of public meetings conveniently located and timed for the attendance of interested citizens.)
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October, 1976
December, 1976
November Units - Planning