Sustainable Living Permit Reso final
SUPPORT BILLS: HB873 and SB109
State Bills Summary
The Sustainable Living Research Bill will allow the possibility for new ways to live in ecovillage-type communities, build affordably and sustainably, provide alternative energy, conserve and harvest fresh water, conserve and improve topsoil without expensive or toxic inputs, increase local food production and quality, provide onsite waste treatment and recycling, and many other developing techniques for sustainable living.
Once law, these bills will be added as a permitted use on Agricultural and Rural land by amending HRS Section 205-2. It will only apply to Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Counties. We propose for it to apply to lots greater than one acre. The Bill will allow applicants to request exemptions from certain state and county codes for approved sustainable living research activities. This would enable innovators and sustainable pioneers to practice and test ways of living that are ecological and sustainable but outside of existing codes.
Further Focus Points. The Sustainable Living Research Bill will:
- Improve our state disaster preparedness by researching and developing practices to alleviate impacts due to a state of emergency
- Increase real ‘affordable’ and sustainable green housing
- Increase employment in small business sustainable enterprises
- Promote the growth of small locally-owned farms that educate and employ a new breed of young farmers
- Provide additional protection for consumers from the disruptions in transport of supplies to Hawaii islands
- Reduce dependence on imports of food and energy by promoting locally sustainable alternatives
- Alleviate landfill problems by increasing ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle
- Promote the development of think tanks focusing on sustainable research and development
- Bring current zoning and land use codes into compliance with local community values
How to submit your testimony:
HOW TO REGISTER |
HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY |
- Go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov and register. (Click Red Arrow for Tutorial Video)
- Once registered you can track the bills and have an easy way to give testimony.
- Click an icon stating “Hearing Notification” (in the center of the page)
- You can by “Subscribe by Measure” by entering HB873 and then click “add.”
- Do the same for SB109.
- Once you receive notification of a hearing, you can click on the bill to submit your testimony. (Click Blue Arrow for Tutorial Video)
- It is a quick and simple process. You will receive a confirmation on your email.
- Download a website guide to the Hawaii State Legislature here: website guide
Sustainable Living Research Sites:
Summary of HB873 & SB109
These Bills provide for legislation to establish “Sustainable Living Research Sites” on parcels greater than one acre and are designated “agricultural”. It would allow applicants to request exemptions from State and County Codes for approved sustainable living research activities.
This would enable innovators and sustainable pioneers to practice and test ways of living that are ecological and sustainable but outside of existing codes.
Research will include new ways to:
- live in ecovillage-type communities,
- build affordably and sustainably,
- provide alternative energy,
- conserve and harvest fresh water,
- conserve and improve topsoil without expensive or toxic inputs,
- increase local food production and quality,
- provide onsite waste treatment and recycling,
- and many other developing techniques for sustainable living.
We have excluded Oahu limited these bills to counties under 500,000 in population.
This law would provide a way for people to come into compliance, and be able to learn about new ways of living that are ecological.
Click links or icons to download the Bill’s full text & amendments:
Sustainable Living 2017 and its current amendments:
