SB1170 Summary

• Authorizes county planning directors to issue special management area use permits for redeveloping permanent affordable multi-family rental housing substantially destroyed by wildfire, hurricane, or earthquake declared as a state of emergency.

• Allows county planning departments and state/county agencies to amend or modify plans and specifications for redeveloping experimental and demonstration housing projects to incorporate cost-effective building advances, provided modifications emphasize community, culture, resilience, and safety without unreasonably increasing costs.

• Permits projects to continue under suspended emergency provisions if a complete permit application was submitted before the disaster emergency relief period ended, even after the emergency proclamation terminates.

• Requires county planning departments and applicable state/county agencies to prioritize approving permits for redeveloping permanent affordable multi-family rental housing in special management areas.

• Exempts permanently affordable multi-family rental housing projects in special management areas on the Hawaii or national register of historic places from environmental impact statement requirements when being redeveloped.

• Exceptions: These provisions do not apply to parcels on the shoreline or affected by waves, storm surges, high tide, or shoreline erosion.