Revised PD Background and Recommendation Amendments to Planning Commission Rule 8 and 9

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ACT 16 The purpose of this Act is to strengthen coastal zone management policy by amending chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to protect state beaches and to reduce residential exposure to coastal hazards. SECTION 2. Section 205A-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows: ""Authority"means the county planning commission, except in counties where the county planning commission is advisory only, in which case "author- ity" means the county council or such body as the council may by ordinance designate. The authority may, as appropriate, delegate the responsibility for ad- ministering this chapter. "Beach" means a coastal landform primarily composed of sand from eroded rock, coral, or shell material, or any combination thereof, that is estab- lished and shaped by wave action and tidal processes. "Beach" includes sand deposits in nearshore submerged areas, or sand dunes or upland beach deposits landward of the shoreline, that provide benefits for public use and recreation,for coastal ecosystems, and as a natural buffer against coastal hazards. "Coastal hazards" means any tsunami, hurricane, wind, wave, storm surges,. gh tide, flooding, erosion, sea level rise, subsidence, or point and non- point source pollution." SECTION 3. Section 205A-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows: "(b) Objectives. (1) Recreational resources; (A) Provide coastal recreational opportunities accessible to the public. (2) Historic resources; (A) Protect, preserve, and, where desirable, restore those natural and manmade historic and prehistoric resources in the coastal zone management area that are significant in Hawaiian and American history and culture. (3) Scenic and open space resources; (A) Protect, preserve, and, where desirable, restore or improve the quality of coastal scenic and open space resources. (4) Coastal ecosystems; (A) Protect valuable coastal ecosystems, including reefs, beaches, and coastal dunes, from disruption and minimize adverse im- pacts on all coastal ecosystems. (5) Economic uses; (A) Provide public or private facilities and improvements impor- tant to the State's economy in suitable locations. (6) Coastal hazards; (A) Reduce hazard to life and property from [tsunami, storm coastal hazards. (7) Managing development; (A) Improve the development review process, communication, and public participation in the management of coastal resources and hazards. (8) Public participation; (A) Stimulate public awareness, education, and participation in coastal management. (9) Beach and coastal dune protection; 257