Section 13-185-3 - Transfer of fuenctions(a) For purposes of geothermal and cable system development projects and for those projects only, the following functions are transferred to the department: the functions of the land use commission related to district boundary amendments as set forth in section 205-3.1 et seq., Hawaii Revised Statutes; and functions of the land use commission related to changes in zoning as set forth in section 205-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and permit approval and enforcement functions of the department of transportation related to use of or commercial activities in or affecting the ocean waters and shores of the State under chapter 266, Hawaii Revised Statutes. If a geothermal and cable system development project is not successful or is terminated as determined by the department, any change in boundary or zoning made pursuant to this section shall revert to the boundary or zoning in place before the change.(b) Regarding functions of the land use commission related to district boundary amendments as set forth in section 205-3.1 et seq., Hawaii Revised Statutes, for district boundary amendments involving land areas greater than fifteen acres, and for land areas fifteen acres or less in conservation districts, for purposes of geothermal and cable system development projects and for those projects only, the department shall process applications as follows. The applicant shall file a petition for boundary amendment with the department. The petition shall be in writing and shall provide a statement of the authorization or relief sought and the statutory provisions under which authorization or relief is sought. For petitions to reclassify properties from the conservation district to any other district, the petition shall include an environmental impact statement or negative declaration approved by the department for the proposed reclassification request; the legal name of the petitioner, and the address, description of the property, the petitioner s proprietary interest in the property, and a copy of the deed or lease, with written authorization of the fee owner to file the petition. The petition shall include the type of development proposed and details regarding the development including timetables, cost, assessment of the effects of the development, and an assessment of the need for reclassification. The department shall serve copies of the application upon the county planning department and planning commission within which the subject land is situated, upon the director of the department of business and economic development, or a designated representative, and upon all persons with a property interest in the property, and upon all persons with a property interest lying within 1000 feet of the subject property, recorded in the county s real property tax records at the time the petition is filed, along with a notice of a public hearing on the matter, to be conducted on the appropriate island. The department shall set the hearing within not less than sixty and not more than one hundred eighty days after a proper application has been filed. The department shall also mail notice of the hearing to all persons who have made a timely written request for advance notice of boundary amendment proceedings, and notice of the hearing shall be published at least once in a newspaper in the county in which the land sought to be redistricted is situated as well as once in a newspaper of general circulation in the State at least thirty days in advance of the hearing. The notice shall comply with the provisions of chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall indicate the time and place that maps showing the proposed district boundary may be inspected, and further, shall inform all interested persons of their rights regarding intervening in the proceedings. The petitioner, the office of state planning and the county planning department within which the subject land is situated shall appear at the proceedings as parties in the petition and shall make recommendations relative to the proposed boundary change. The department shall admit any other department or agencies of the State and of the county in which the land is situated as parties upon timely application. The department shall admit any person who has some property interest in the land, who lawfully resides on the land, or within 1000 feet of the land, or who otherwise can demonstrate that they will be so directly and immediately affected by the proposed change that their interest in the proceeding is clearly distinguishable from that of the general public, as interveners to the proposed boundary change. The department shall receive applications for leave to intervene from any member of the public, provided the department may deny an application if it appears it is substantially the same as the position of a party already admitted to the proceeding and if admission of additional parties will render the proceedings inefficient and unmanageable. The petition for intervention shall be filed with the department within fifteen days after the notice of hearing is published in the newspaper. The petition shall make reference to the following: (1) Nature of petitioner s statutory or other right;(2) Nature and extent of the petitioner s interest, and if an abutting property owner, or a property owner whose property lies within 1000 feet of the subject land, the tax map key description of the property; and(3) Effect of any decision in the proceeding on petitioner s interest. Within a period of not more than one hundred and twenty days after the close of the hearing, the department shall, by findings of fact and conclusions of law, act to approve the petition, deny the petition, or to modify the petition by imposing conditions necessary to uphold the intent and spirit of the law or to assure substantial compliance with representations made by the petitioner in seeking a boundary change.
The department shall not approve an amendment of a land use district boundary unless the department finds upon the clear preponderence of the evidence that the proposed boundary amendment is reasonable, not violative of section 205-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and consistent with the policies and criteria established pursuant to sections 205-16, 205-17, and 205A-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
In its review of any petition for reclassification of district boundaries pursuant to this chapter, the department shall specifically consider the following:
(1) The extent to which the proposed reclassification conforms to the applicable goals, objectives, and policies of the Hawaii State Plan and relates to the applicable priority guidelines of the Hawaii State Plan and the adopted functional plans;(2) The extent to which the proposed reclassification conforms to the applicable district standards;(3) The impact of the proposed reclassification on the following areas of state concern: (A) Preservation or maintenance of important natural systems or habitats;(B) Maintenance of valued cultural, historical, or natural resources;(C) Maintenance of other natural resources relevant to Hawaii s economy including, but not limited to agricultural resources;(D) Commitment of state funds and resources;(E) Provision for employment opportunities and economic development; and(F) Provision for housing opportunities for all income groups, particularly the low, low-moderate and gap groups; and(4) In establishing the boundaries of the districts in each county, the department shall give consideration to the general plan of the county in which the land is located. Amendments of land use district boundary in other than conservation districts involving land areas fifteen acres or less shall be determined by the appropriate county land use decision-making authority for the district.
(c) Regarding transfer of the function of the land use commission concerning changes in zoning, for purposes of geothermal and cable system development projects and for those projects only, for land within agricultural and rural districts the area of which is greater than fifteen acres, special permits of the county planning commission for geothermal and cable development projects shall be subject to approval by the department for unusual and reasonable uses within agricultural and rural districts other than those for which the district is classified. The department may impose additional restrictions as may be necessary or appropriate in granting such approval, including the adherence to representations made by the applicant. The following guidelines are established in determining an unusual and reasonable use: (1) The use shall not be contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by chapters 205 and 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes;(2) The desired use would not adversely affect surrounding property;(3) The use would not unreasonably burden public agencies to provide roads and streets, sewers, water drainage and school improvements, and police and fire protection;(4) Unusual conditions, trends and needs have arisen since the district boundaries and rules were established; and(5) The land upon which the proposed use is sought is unsuited for the uses permitted within the district. A copy of the decision together with the complete record of the proceeding before the county planning commission on all special permit requests for a geothermal and cable system development project involving a land area greater than fifteen acres shall be transmitted to the department within sixty days after the decision is rendered. Within forty-five days after receipt of the complete record from the county planning commission, the department shall act to approve, approve with modification, or deny the petition. A denial either by the county planning commission or by the department or a modification by the department as the case may be, of the desired use shall be appealable to the circuit court of the circuit in which the land is situated and shall be made pursuant to the Hawaii rules of civil procedure.
(d) Regarding permit approval and enforcement functions of the department of transportation related to use of or commercial activities in or affecting the ocean waters and shores of the State under chapter 266, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for any construction, dredging, or filling within the ocean waters of the State, including ocean waters, navigable streams and harbors belonging to or controlled by the State, to be undertaken as part of a geothermal and cable systems development project, a permit application form called Application for Work in the Ocean Waters of the State of Hawaii (hereinafter Application for Work), available at the Division of Water and Land Development, shall be filed by the applicant. Requirements to accompany the application include an environmental assessment or statement, a description of the shoreline, nature and extent of proposed work (such as construction, dredging, disposition of dredged material, filling, or other work) , reference to public access, effects on adjacent property owners, and other information pertinent to the proposed work as required. In areas where a Conservation District Use Application (CDUA) is required, the Application for Work need not be filed. The requirements outlined above will be met via inter-division coordination within the department. A separate application for Application for Work in the shorewaters of the State will no longer be necessary except when: (1) an applicant s proposal is in the conservation district, but does not require a CDUA per the department s determination and (2) an applicant applies for a CDUA, but in the review process the department expresses opposition or objection to the proposal. In areas where the proposed project is in the ocean waters, but not in the conservation district, the applicant is required to file an Application for Work with the department. The department shall inform and consult with, as appropriate, various agencies that have jurisdiction over navigable waters. When directed, the applicant shall notify the United States Coast Guard of such work for publication of a Notice to Mariners.[Eff: SEP 05 1989] (Auth: HRS Sec. 196D-9) (Imp: HRS Sec. 196D-10)