Anthony Ching plans to step down as executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority on Dec. 31 after eight years heading the state agency that regulates development in Kakaako.

Ching, who had spent about two months on medical-related leave until Oct. 12, made the retirement decision to care for his health, according to agency spokeswoman Lindsey Doi.

Ching, 61, has spent close to 30 years in state government, including as executive officer of the state Land Use Commission, deputy director of the Health Department and a planner with the Office of Planning and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Ching was hired as HCDA’s executive director in January 2008. He led the agency through one of its most active and controversial periods, in which many Kakaako residents have complained about the number of condominium towers approved while state lawmakers imposed major changes on the agency’s development rules and board composition.

The HCDA board is considering a proposal to retain an executive search consultant and appoint a task force to help recruit and select a new executive director. A decision by the board on retaining the consultant and forming the task force is scheduled for a meeting today.

HCDA was created by the Legislature in 1976 to help reverse urban decay in Kakaako between Ala Moana Boulevard and Piikoi, Punchbowl and King streets through special development rules aimed at improving substandard infrastructure and turning much of what was then a largely industrial area into a neighborhood filled with residential high-rises mixed with retail and industrial uses.

In more recent years the agency was given planning and development oversight for 3,700 acres at Kalaeloa that used to be the Barbers Point Naval Air Station and 405 acres of wetlands in Heeia.