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Committee backs retaining Planning Commission, seeks ROH fix to move subdivision rulemaking to DPP
Summary
The committee voted to transmit its report recommending the Planning Commission be retained without change but to amend ROH §22‑3.5 to make the Director of Planning and Permitting responsible for subdivision rulemaking; Planning Commission chair cited staffing and quorum constraints and recommended DPP adopt rules and return results to the commission.
The Committee on Zoning and Planning considered Council Communication 60‑2026 and an attached draft committee report recommending that the Planning Commission be retained without change while amending the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) §22‑3.5 to assign responsibility for adopting subdivision and consolidation rules to the Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP).
Pane Meatoga, chair of the Planning Commission, told the committee the commission is a volunteer body with limited staff support and recommended DPP undertake rule drafting because the commission lacks capacity to produce and administer its own rules. He described occasional quorum difficulties and noted commissioners travel from off‑island for hearings.
Committee members asked about the commission’s hearing space, public‑notice and outreach practices, and whether the commission could accommodate more public testimony. The chair noted differences between charter provisions and ROH language and said the proposed amendment would align the ordinance with charter duty assignments (Charter sections 6‑153 and 6‑1506 were discussed).
The chair recommended transmitting the committee report and the attached draft resolution and bill (to amend ROH §22‑3.5) for public hearing and adoption. The committee recorded no objections and ordered the recommendation transmitted.
