Honolulu City Council Policy Resolutions(Link to original Word Processing Version)
86-374
Draft 2 as amended
ESTABLISHING POLICIES FOR THE ACQUISITION OF OAHU BEACHFRONT
LANDS FOR PARK AND RECREATION PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the desirability of protecting and preserving
Oahu's shoreline and of providing opportunities for the
recreational use of these beach and shoreline areas is expressly
stated in the objectives and policies of the 1982 General Plan of
the City and County of Honolulu; and
WHEREAS, to implement these objectives and policies, the
City administration formulated in 1984, a plan for the
acquisition of beachfront lands on Oahu including the
identification of specific sites for City acquisition; and
WHEREAS, two years later, in 1986, the City department of
Parks and Recreation communicated to the Council that "there is a
particular urgency for beachfront lands because it is a limited
and disappearing resource"; and
WHEREAS, while the City administration has recognized the
pressing need to acquire beachfront lands and established a
policy and developed a plan for the acquisition of such property,
the Council finds that only a marginal amount of beachfront
property has been acquired since 1980; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of
Honolulu that it adopt the following policies governing the
acquisition of Oahu beachfront lands for park purposes:
"POLICIES ON BEACHFRONT LAND ACQUISITION
FOR PARK AND RECREATION USE
A. Acquisition Policy: The City shall purchase the
following privately-owned beachfront sites based on the
recommended timetable:
B. Dedication/Exchange Policy: The City shall actively seek the following privately-owned beachfront sites through the park dedication process or by land exchange. If both dedication and land exchange are notpossible, the property shall be placed on the acquisition list for purchase:
C. Transfer/Release Policy: The City shall continue to
work toward the transfer or release of the following
beachfront lands from the State or federal government:
D. Land Banking Policy: The City shall systematically
acquire beachfront lands to control future growth,
development and land use of Oahu's shorelines as
provided under Article XI, section 4, of the Hawaii
State Constitution. The City shall actively seek state
funding participation in the acquisition of beachfront
lands including the proposal to establish a beachfront
land bank fund to be expended by the counties in the
acquisition of beachfront lands.
If the City lacks the funds to immediately develop and
open the land for public park purposes, the City shall
attempt to minimize the City's potential liability by
providing for the following minimum level of
maintenance and safety measures:
1. Fences or other safety barriers to alert the
public to the general hazards and risks associated
with undeveloped land;
2. Signs to inform the public of the undeveloped
condition of such property including the lack of
lifeguards, comfort station and any other
facilities, and that the public proceeds at their
own risk;
3. Regularly scheduled inspections and evaluations of
the maintenance of the safety measures at each
site; and
4. Any other steps that provide reasonable care for
the public safety.
E. Setback Policy: The City shall require a generous
setback area landward of the highwater mark along the
entire shoreline frontage of the Laie-Kakela, Kahuku,
Mokuleia and Bellows Field coastline for general public
recreational use.
F. Lease Policy: The City shall seek to lease suitable
privately-owned beachfront sites for a reasonable fee.
The City shall include under this policy the leasing of
the Kahe "Tracks" Beach Park from Hawaiian Electric
Company (9-2-03: 26 por.).
G. Rights-Of-Way Acquisition Policy: Pursuant to Section
115-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the City shall purchase
lands for public rights-of-way to the shorelines and
beaches and shall maintain such rights-of-way for
public use.
H. Implementation Policy: The City administration shall
implement the policies set forth in this Resolution as
follows:
1. Incorporate the acquisition schedule and funds in
the Executive capital improvement program and
budget, when appropriate;
2. Initiate the appropriate changes to the
development plan and zoning ordinances to be
consistent with the policies set forth in this
Resolution;
3. Not later than January 31, provide an annual
report to the Council on the City's progress in
carrying out the policies of this Resolution;
4. Notify the Council when any of the policies,
especially those relating to site acquisition,
cannot be implemented;
5. Notify the Council whenever it determines that a
particular beachfront property is being threatened
by development inconsistent with the policies set
forth in this Resolution so that appropriate
action may be taken by the City; and
6. Review the policies contained in this resolution
at least every four years and recommend any
amendments to the Council."
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of City and County of Honolulu, and the Directors of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Budget, and the Department of General Planning and to the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate.
INTRODUCED BY:
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DATE OF INTRODUCTION:
November 19, 1986
Adopted Meeting Held:
November 19, 1986
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