The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committees on Housing and Water and Land on Feb. 8, 2024.
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Feb. 8, 2024, 1:01 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 225 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Housing
Sen. Stanley Chang, Chair
Sen. Troy N. Hashimoto, Vice-Chair
Senate Committee on Water and Land
Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye, Chair
Sen. Brandon J.C. Elefante, Vice-Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF SB2804 — RELATING TO HOUSING
Aloha Chairs Chang and Inouye, Vice-Chairs Hashimoto and Elefante and Committee Members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its support for SB2804, which would let landowners with 30 or more acres of contiguous agricultural land directly petition the state Land Use Commission to allow housing for the elderly on up to 15 acres of that land.
The state’s housing shortage necessitates that the state and counties take an all-of-the-above approach to land-use and zoning reform to allow more homebuilding.
SB2804 would not lessen the authority of the LUC to regulate agricultural lands, but it would streamline the approval process for companies and nonprofits seeking to build affordable housing for the elderly.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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