Honolulu City Council Bill 17, which would allow for shoreline property owners to put up retaining walls and other structures, has been approved by the Council Zoning and Planning Committee. However, committee members stated that they would like additional information to insure that no unintended negative environmental consequences occur because of the walls and structures. Ernie Martin, the Council Chairman who proposed the bill, stated that he wanted to help shoreline properties on coastal zones that were struggling to control the erosion of their properties. Martin stated that landowners are currently required to go through a lengthy and expensive environmental review process to obtain a variance from the Department of Planning and Permitting. Bill 17 would cut through some of that red tape, provided that the retaining walls or other minor shoreline structures are deemed to have no environmental impact.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 3-21-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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