Chapter 19 - Department of Planning and Permitting

To provide the public with efficient, timely service that is responsive and effective in guiding development to protect our unique resources and environment; provide livable neighborhoods that are compatible to their adjacent communities; provide a community that is responsive to the residents’ social, economic, cultural, and recreational needs; and ensure the health and safety of our residents.

Mission Statement

The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) is responsible for the city’s long-range and community planning efforts. It administers and enforces various permits required for development, land use and codes pertaining to building construction, and city standards and regulations related to infrastructure requirements. DPP is organized into eight functional areas: Administration, Honolulu Land Information System, Building, Customer Service, Land Use Permits, Planning, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), and Site Development.

The department also provides administrative support for the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Design Advisory Committee.

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Building27%

Planning16%

Site Development

18%

Administration18%

Customer Service

15%

Land Use Permits

6%

General Fund83%

Highway Fund13%

Special Projects

Fund

<1%

Sewer Fund4%

Spending and Staffing

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. ¹Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding. 2Cost Per FTE = Operating Expenditures/Total Authorized FTE. 3Overtime pay is established by bargaining unit agree-ment, as applicable.

Revenues

($ millions)

Operating Expenditures

($ millions) Total Authorized FTE

Total Vacant

FTE Cost Per FTE2

Overtime

Expenditures3

FY 2013 $15.85 $15.52 332.0 76.0 $46,744 $146,768

FY 2014 $24.36 $19.45 337.0 78.0 $57,712 $85,230

FY 2015 $23.87 $19.39 304.0 38.0 $63,789 $145,309

FY 2016 $23.35 $19.42 304.0 30.0 $63,892 $140,504

FY 2017 $23.87 $21.00 315.0 48.0 $66,659 $123,505

Change from last year 2% 8% 4% 60% 4% -12%Change over last 5 51% 35% -5% -37% 43% -16%

Staffing

Fund Sources1 Fund Uses

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Highlights Chapter 3 Department of Community Services

The department’s operating expenditures increased 8% over the last year.

Operating Expenditures

8%

Revenues

Department revenues increased 2% over the last year.

2%

The department’s total FTE increased 4% over the last year.

4%

Spending and Staffing

The department’s operating expenditures increased 35% from $15.52 million to $21 million over the last five years. The department attributes the increase to an increase in consultant services and salaries due to collective bargaining and additional positions.

Total revenues increased 51% from $15.85 million in FY 2013 to $23.87 million in FY 2017. The department attributes the increase to the repeal of the building permit fee waiver for solar permits during the last months of FY 2013 and the increase in various permit and plan review fees.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Five Year Trends

FTE

Total overtime expenditures decreased 12% from last year.

Overtime

-12% $123 K

$21 M

$23.87 M

Highlights Chapter 19 - Department of Planning and Permitting

Operating Expenditures

Revenues

Spending and Staffing Five Year Trends

FTE

Overtime

315 FTE

Held second public community meeting on the designation of Important Agricultural Lands and the revised draft of the city’s General Plan;

Completed Honolulu Arts Corridor feasibility study to complement the city’s Neal S. Blaisdell Center redevelopment master plan;

Submitted bills to the City Council for a new affordable housing requirement and financial incentives; and

Submitted the Ala Moana Neighborhood TOD Plan for adoption; developed TOD initiatives to take advantage of rail transit service in the Waipahu, Chinatown, Kapalama, and Iwilei neighborhoods; and the City Council adopted the Kalihi Neighborhood TOD Plan.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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16,737

12,428

8,686 9,177

5,431

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,000

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017

Administration and Honolulu Land Information System (HoLIS)

Administration Administration plans, directs, and coordinates department activities including personnel management, budget preparation and fiscal management. It is also responsible for administering the Honolulu Land Information System (HoLIS) and the city’s Geographic Information System (GIS). These programs relate to DPP’s goals to: 1) provide a comprehensive and integrated information source of geographic information systems, and 2) improve the city’s operational services. Administration’s operating expenditures increased 2% from $3.58 million in FY 2016 to $3.64 million in FY 2017, and 60% over the last five years. The department attributes the increase over the last year to additional costs to comply with the City’s NPDES Permit requirements and a slight increase due to collective bargaining.

HoLIS HoLIS is an enterprise-wide system serving over 15 city departments with land use, permit, tax, infrastructure, and environmental data. Geographically referenced information links existing city records to precise locations on the island of O`ahu. There are currently over 80 different geographic data layers stored in the HoLIS spatial data base such as tax assessment designations and values, existing land use and activities, transportation corridors, and flood and natural hazards.

Operating expenditures decreased 14% from $1.62 million in FY 2016 to $1.39 million in FY 2017. The total number of GIS work orders completed declined 1% since last year, and decreased 9% over the last five years from 601 work orders in FY 2013 to 546 in FY 2017. The department attributes the decrease to staff turnover and to focus on major projects.

Source: Department of Planning & Permitting

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services and Department of Planning and Permitting.

Administration

Honolulu Land

Information

System

Total GIS

Work Orders

Completed

Total GIS

Data Maintenance

Jobs

Total Maps and

Exhibits

Prepared

Total New

POSSE Permit

Jobs Created

Internet

(HonLINE)

Permits Issued

Total Visits to

GIS Website

FY 2013 $2.28 $1.26 601 1,572 129 135,090 16,737 395,200

FY 2014 $2.76 $1.57 507 1,300 380 121,040 12,428 671,344

FY 2015 $2.56 $1.51 596 1,159 442 110,633 8,686 381,977

FY 2016 $3.58 $1.62 551 1,129 371 114,281 9,177 382,986

FY 2017 $3.64 $1.39 546 1,096 303 100,752 5,431 357,845

Change from last year 2% -14% -1% -3% -18% -12% -41% -7%

Change over last 5 years 60% 11% -9% -30% 135% -25% -68% -9%

Honolulu Land Information System (HoLIS)Operating Expenditures ($ millions)

Internet (HonLINE) Permits Issued

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Building Chapter 19 - Department of Planning and Permitting

The Building Division is responsible for administering and enforcing building, electrical, plumbing, building energy efficiency, and housing codes. The division also reviews permit applications; plans; and specifications for building, relocation, and sign permits. Additionally, it inspects buildings, structures, sidewalks, and driveways under construction for compliance with approved plans and pertinent codes.

Operating expenditures increased 2% over the last year and 16% over the last five years, rising from $4.94 million in FY 2013 to $5.71 million in FY 2017.

In FY 2017, 19% of residents rated the city’s code enforcement as excellent or good. This rating was a decrease of 4% from last year’s rating of 23%, and a 1% increase from FY 2013’s rating of 18%. Honolulu’s FY 2017 code enforcement rating is much lower than comparison benchmarks.

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services and Department of Planning and Permitting. ¹Third Party Photovoltaic Inspection began with the adoption of Ordinance 12-38 on December 12, 2012.

Operating

Expenditures

($ millions)

Total Building

Code

Complaints

Serviced

Total Building

Code

Inspections

Conducted

Total Building

Code Violation

Notices Issued

Total Electrical

Code

Inspections

Conducted

Total City

Photovoltaic

Inspections

Total Third

Party

Photovoltaic

Inspections¹

Total

Mechanical

Code

Inspections

Conducted

Total

Building/Sign

Permit

Applications

Reviewed

FY 2013 $4.94 3,054 63,090 429 38,232 14,790 394 23,629 8,831

FY 2014 $5.36 3,458 61,686 536 36,676 12,013 2,272 23,399 4,523

FY 2015 $5.37 3,245 49,506 498 33,367 6,139 1,479 21,696 3,688

FY 2016 $5.59 3,361 52,572 517

FY 2017 $5.71 3,242 68,239 545 33,273 3,463 94 19,320 3,149

Change from last year 2% -4% 30% 5% - - - - -

Change over last 5 years 16% 6% 8% 27% -13% -77% -76% -18% -64%

The department did not provide FY 2016 data.

Source: 2017 National Citizen Survey (Honolulu)

83%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Major or Moderate Problem Not or Minor Problem

The extent to which you think building permit processing times are a problem:

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Customer Services Office

The Customer Service Division (CSD) operates the consolidated permit counter, which handles customer inquiries, processes minor permits, receives permit applications, and collects permit fees. CSD also maintains the department’s various historical and current property and permit records. Additionally, it processes complaints and inspects existing buildings, structures, vacant lots, and sidewalks to address unsafe and substandard conditions. Operating expenditures increased 1% from a year ago and 28% over the last five years, rising from $2.52 million in FY 2013 to $3.21 million in FY 2017. Solar permits issued totaled 3,178 in FY 2017. This represented a 65% decrease from last year, but a 6% increase from five years ago. The total building permits issued decreased from 20,076 in FY 2016 to 15,739 in FY 2017. Over the last five years, the number of building permits issued declined 49%. The total housing units with housing code deficiencies found decreased 24%from last year and decreased 33% from 369 deficiencies found in FY 2013 to 249 in FY 2017. In FY 2017, 39% of Honolulu residents rated the overall customer service by Honolulu employees as excellent or good. This was a 3% point decrease from

last year, but a 2% point increase from five years ago. This rating is lower than the national benchmarks.

Source: 2017 National Citizen Survey (Honolulu)

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, Department of Planning and Permitting, and 2017 National Citizen Survey (Honolulu).

Citizen Survey

(% Excellent or Good)

Operating

Expenditures

($ millions)

Total Sidewalks

Inspected

Total Vacant

Lots Inspected

Total Housing Units

with Housing Code

Deficiencies Found

Total Building

Permits Issued

Total Solar

Permits Issued

Overall Customer Service by

Honolulu Employees

FY 2013 $2.52 3,747 170 369 30,882 2,991 37%

FY 2014 $2.75 3,380 252 400 23,391 2,455 43%

FY 2015 $3.03 2,623 174 338 18,824 6,209 35%

FY 2016 $3.17 3,108 167 327 20,076 9,072 42%

FY 2017 $3.21 2,647 154 249 15,739 3,178 39%

Change from last year 1% -15% -8% -24% -22% -65% -3%

Change over last 5 years 28% -29% -9% -33% -49% 6% 2%

67% 33%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Large residential structures withupwards of 20 bedrooms inresidential neighborhoods

2017 Citizen SurveyHow important for the City to address in the next two years?

% Essential and Somewhat Important % Somewhat and Not at All Important

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Land Use Permits Chapter 19 - Department of Planning and Permitting

Land Use Permits Division (LUPD) administers the Land Use Ordinances (LUO) and all regulations pertaining to land use within the City and County of Honolulu. The division reviews and prepares amendments to the LUO and processes all LUO regulated land use permits. It also administers the Special Management Area and Shoreline Setback Ordinances and processes all required Special Management Area Permits, including setback variances and permits for minor shoreline structures. Total special design district applications decreased 44% from 106 applications in FY 2016 to 59 in FY 2017. Similarly, the number of conditional use permits decreased 49% from FY 2016 (129) to FY 2017 (66), and a 45% decrease over the last five years. In FY 2017, the division processed 15 environmental assessments/impact statements. Over the last five years, the number of assessments/impact statements processed increased 88% . Honolulu residents’ perceptions of land use, planning, and zoning, and quality of new development in Honolulu improved slightly over the last year. In FY 2017, 19% of residents rated land use, planning, and zoning in Honolulu as excellent or good, which is a 3% decline from five years ago, and is lower than comparison benchmarks. Also, 35% of residents rated the quality of new development in Honolulu as excellent or good. This rating is lower than comparison benchmarks.

Source: 2017 National Citizen Survey (Honolulu)

85%

15%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Strongly or somewhat support Strongly or somewhat oppose

Protecting and preparing infrastructure against sea level rise

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, Department of Planning and Permitting, and 2017 National Citizen Survey (Honolulu).

Operating

Expenditures

($ millions)

Total Special

Design District

Applications

Reviewed

Total Zoning

Variances

Reviewed

Total

Environmental

Assessments/Impact

Statements Reviewed

Number of

Waivers

Granted

Number of

Conditional Use

Permits

(Minor/Major)

Quality of New

Development in

Honolulu

Land Use,

Planning, and

Zoning

FY 2013 $0.96 106 30 8 77 121 29% 16%

FY 2014 $1.02 110 35 20 80 120 37% 16%

FY 2015 $1.15 64 32 12 78 82 38% 19%

FY 2016 $1.16 106 31 25 89 129 40% 20%

FY 2017 $1.27 59 12 15 57 66 86% 19%

Change from last year 10% -44% -61% -40% -36% -49% 46% -1%

Change over last 5 years 33% -44% -60% 88% -26% -45% 57% 3%

Citizen Survey (% Excellent or Good)

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Planning and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Planning Planning is responsible for preparing, evaluating, and revising the O`ahu General Plan and nine long-range regional development plans. It also processes applications for public infrastructure map amendments, zone changes and state special use permits; and monitors compliance with unilateral agreement conditions associated with zone changes, including affordable housing requirements. In FY 2017, the division completed the Honolulu Arts Corridor feasibility study and finalized the Blaisdell Center Master Plan Feasibility.

Operating expenditures increased 52% from FY 2016 ($2.18 million) to FY 2017 ($3.31 million). Over the last five years, expenditures increased 97%. In FY 2017, total environmental assessments/impact statements reviewed decreased 22% from 37 in FY 2016 to 29 in FY 2017. Over the last five years, the number of statements reviewed decreased 6%.

Transit-Oriented Development The TOD division is responsible for coordinating all city departments’ efforts to implement TOD, through plans and policies, projects and investments, incentives, codes and regulations, outreach and events, and coordination of public, private, and community stakeholders. The division supports the Mayor’s TOD subcabinet, which meets regularly to discuss TOD-related infrastructure, projects, and policies and streamline implementation. Division staff develops neighborhood TOD plans, TOD zoning and land use ordinances, Complete Streets, and affordable housing policies. It also

manages catalytic planning and development projects. In FY 2017, TOD submitted the Ala Moana Neighborhood TOD Plan for adoption; developed TOD initiatives to take advantage of rail transit service in the Waipahu, Chinatown, Kapalama, and Iwilei neighborhoods; and Kalihi Neighborhood TOD Plan. It also secured a Transportation Alternative Program grant from the state Department of Transportation to develop a TOD Wayfinding Master Plan for the rail corridor.

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services and Department of Planning and Permitting.

Source: Department of Planning and Permitting website

Citizen Survey

(% Excellent or Good)

Operating Expenditures

($ millions)

Total Zone Change

Applications Reviewed

Total Environmental

Assessments/ Impact

Statements Reviewed

Total Unilateral

Agreement Permit

Reviewed

Preservation of Natural

Areas

FY 2013 $1.68 11 31 306 31%

FY 2014 $4.09 14 35 246 48%

FY 2015 $3.68 10 28 285 30%

FY 2016 $2.18 9 37 264 42%

FY 2017 $3.31 10 29 263 35%

Change from last year 52% 11% -22% -<1% -7%

Change over last 5 years 97% -9% -6% -14% 4%

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Site Development Chapter 19 - Department of Planning and Permitting

Site Development administers and enforces subdivision and grading ordinances, and drainage regulations. The division sets standards and regulates the infrastructure required for site developments. Additionally, the division processes subdivision applications, reviews subdivision construction plans, and conducts site inspections to ensure compliance with city guidelines.

Operating expenditures increased 3% from $3.74 million in FY 2016 to $3.85 million in FY 2017. Over the last five years, operating expenditures increased 23%.

In FY 2017, the division processed 1,123 major complaints investigated/reports prepared (non-permit). This was a 20% decrease from 1,401 in the prior year and a 19% decrease over the last five years.

The number of sewer adequacy studies conducted rose 52% from 1,442 in FY 2016 to 2,185 in FY 2017. In FY 2013, the division conducted 934 studies compared with 2,185 in FY 2017, a 134% increase.

In FY 2017, 39% of Honolulu residents indicated that they did NOT observe a code violation. This rating was an increase from 37% that did not observe a code violation in FY 2016 and is lower than comparison benchmarks.

Source: 2017 National Citizen Survey (Honolulu)

15%

85%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Not or minor problem Major or moderate problem

2017 Citizen Survey:Lack of infrastructure upgrades to support new

development

Source: Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, Department of Planning and Permitting. 1Non-Permit related major complaints investigated commonly include technical matters relating to issues between private parties.

Operating

Expenditures

($ millions)

Total Construction

Plans Reviewed

Total Grading

Permits Issued

Total Grading

Permit

Inspections

Conducted

Major Complaints

Investigated/ Reports

Prepared (Non-Permit)

Related¹

Total Sewer

Adequacy Studies

Conducted

Total Sewer

Connection Permits

Issued

FY 2013 $3.14 1,347 628 24,516 1,387 934 523

FY 2014 $3.48 1,403 587 25,036 1,593 959 474

FY 2015 $3.59 1,073 592 23,184 856 914 390

FY 2016 $3.74 953 559 29,325 1,401 1,442 263

FY 2017 $3.85 930 568 26,220 1,123 2,185 344

Change from last year 3% -2% 2% -11% -20% 52% 31%

Change over last 5 years 23% -31% -10% 7% -19% 134% -34%

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