Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Playgrounds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs resolution to allow dog parks as part of developer park dedications
Summary
The planning committee advanced Resolution 24‑220 to permit dog parks as an alternative to traditional parks within the city's park‑dedication requirements; the Department of Design and Permstruction expressed support and the item was reported out for council consideration.
The Committee on Planning, Infrastructure and Transportation on Thursday voted to report Resolution 24‑220, which would amend the subdivision requirements in Chapter 21 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu to allow developers to dedicate dog parks in lieu of — or in addition to — conventional human playgrounds where park dedications are required.
Introduced by Council Member Chipola, the resolution would change the city’s park‑dedication rules to permit a dedicated dog park as an allowable form of land set aside under development requirements. "We support this motion going forward," Brian Gallagher, deputy director with the Department of Design and Construction, told the committee during the hearing.
Why it matters: community members and council members told the committee there is local demand for dog parks. Chipola said the change is intended to give developers and neighborhoods flexibility when meeting park dedication requirements.
Public input and committee action: Lee Tokuhara, representing D.R. Horton Hawaii, testified in favor of the resolution and submitted written testimony. There were no remote testifiers. The chair recommended the item be reported out for adoption; the committee recorded no objections and ordered the resolution forwarded to council.
Next steps: the resolution will be transmitted to DPP and the Planning Commission for draft bill review before returning to the council. The committee record does not show a roll‑call vote; the chair announced there were no objections.
Details: the resolution would amend subdivision ordinance provisions within ROH Chapter 21 (2021) to expand the types of parks acceptable for dedication under the city’s subdivision rules.
