Operators and supporters of performing arts schools are pushing city officials to allow music and dance institutions in Oahu’s industrial-zoned properties where similar activities such as martial arts studios, health and fitness establishments, gymnasiums and gymnastic schools can now set up.

A Honolulu City Council resolution directing the Department of Planning and Permitting to take the first steps toward allowing the change was approved by the Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Wednesday.

DPP officials said they understand the intent of Resolution 13-245 but warned Council members they should not make too many allowances because of concerns that doing so could crowd out heavy industrial operations for which the zoning was intended.

A handful of operators and supporters testified for the resolution while several dozen more submitted written testimony.

Erica Kaolowi, whose 7-year-old son, Evan, participates in a performing arts school, said music and dance schools need larger spaces that can be better accommodated in industrial areas because such properties would be hard to find and cost-prohibitive in standard business or mixed-used zones. "These studios need a lot of space, just like gymnastics, just like fitness centers," she said. "The music, the dance (and) the theater go hand in hand. They need a place to perform."

Instructor Wendy Gilbert said "the large flexible spaces with affordable rents" needed for a state-of-the-art facility are typically in industrial-zoned areas that allow schools for gymnastics and martial arts as well as fitness and day care centers but not performing arts studios.

"Why the prejudice toward music and dance?" Gilbert asked.

Councilman Breene Harimoto, who introduced the resolution, agreed with testifiers that "there is some inequity here." The city should be supporting the performing arts in whatever way it can, he said, noting that "studies show (children) who participate in the arts — dance, music — do better academically in school."

City planning officials, however, said they don’t want too many nonindustrial uses allowed in industrial-zoned areas.

Jamie Peirson, DPP Land Use Permits Division chief, said intensive industrial districts are areas established "to provide a home for uses that make a lot of noise, got a lot of dust, got stink, stuff like that — it’s the smokestack industries, things that have got a lot of banging, big trucks and maybe shift work around the clock."

The purpose of intensive industrial zoning is to separate such uses from lands zoned for incompatible uses such as housing, he said.

In 1999, the land-use ordinance was changed to allow for what are defined as "indoor amusement and recreational facilities" including fitness centers and schools for martial arts and gymnastics, Peirson said.

Peirson and city Planning Director George Atta said some of the properties now in the "I-1" industrial district should probably have been classified as mixed-used industrial zoning, where music and dance schools would be allowed.

Commercial uses typically established by people working in intensive industrial districts include banks, restaurants, bars, pool halls, bowling alleys, game rooms and convenience stores.

The ultimate solution may be taking a hard look at all industrial spaces to see which ones should really be mixed industrial zones, Atta said.

The resolution now goes to the full Council Dec. 11 for a final vote.