Position Statement on Planning & Zoning
The following position statement was adopted by the Honolulu LWV Board of Directors, at its meeting on December 16. Member agreement was reached
through discussion at the November units and concurrence with the statement proposed by the Planning Committee.
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.
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, and agriculture, 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.
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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 or desirable. Reduction across- the-board of densities permitted by the present CZC's excessively per- missive regulations should be effected by Council amendment of the CZC 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.
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Priority should be given to developing sound city-wide zoning controls,
geared to area development plans and the General Plan. Special area controls, such as historic-cultural-scenic districts, special design districts, and planned developments can be useful adjuncts but are not a substitute for underlying zoning.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING
Government should provide for and 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 response;
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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 plan;
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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December, 1976
February, 1977
