The Zoning and Planning Committee on July 28 reported Bill 37 (CD1) out for passage on third reading. The bill would amend the State Land Use Boundary Map for the Haleiwa Quadrangle to reclassify an approximately 7.292-acre petition area of a 7.525-acre zoning lot (TMK 6-2-005-002) from the State Agricultural District to the State Urban District.

Committee materials describe the boundary amendment as the initial step in a multi-stage entitlement process that would allow future zone-change and project-specific review if the land becomes classified urban. The applicant’s conceptual plan presented 150–156 low-rise rental apartment units, roughly 30,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial space, parking and wastewater management, but committee chair and staff repeatedly noted the boundary amendment does not itself approve a project or guarantee zoning changes.

Planning consultant Jim Hayes of Planning Solutions Inc. told the committee the site is within the North Shore community growth boundary and the Haleiwa Special District; he said the site lies outside mapped flood, sea-level rise and coastal-hazard zones and described the developer’s intent to provide “gap” housing targeted at 80–120% area median income (AMI), with 30% of units complying with the city’s affordable-housing baseline (10% at 80% AMI, remainder at 120% AMI).

The hearing drew extensive public comment, with many North Shore residents and community groups testifying in opposition to the boundary amendment and to a proposed project on the parcel. Opponents — including the North Shore Neighborhood Board, North Shore Chamber of Commerce, conservation and community associations and residents — raised concerns about traffic congestion in Haleiwa, the loss of agricultural land, adequacy of sewer and wastewater infrastructure (cesspool concerns), potential light and noise impacts on wildlife and cultural and community character. Opponents submitted numerous written testimonies and in-person speakers described organized opposition and a petition exceeding 1,000 signatures.

Several supporters — primarily members of the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and property-owners who favor housing near employment — testified that the site is not productive agricultural land, that the parcel is an infill opportunity within the community growth boundary and that the CD1 contains safeguards including a required traffic impact analysis and potential affordable-housing conditions during a later zone-change process.

Department of Planning and Permitting staff and the managing director provided background: DPP said the petition area is within the Haleiwa Special District and would require a Special District Major Permit and subsequent zone-change application to approve a specific project; Managing Director Mike Formby said the administration supports a community-driven approach and noted that inclusion of Chinatown had been considered and declined initially by some Chinatown stakeholders because of density and assessment equity concerns. The chair recommended reporting Bill 37 CD1 out for passage on third reading; no objections were recorded and the measure was reported out of committee for passage.