Auditor to look at DPP building permitting delays

The Honolulu City Council adopted a measure Wednesday instructing its auditor’s office to look into why it takes so long to obtain a building permit from the Department of Planning and Permitting.

Resolution 18-284, introduced by Councilman Joey Manahan, asks the city auditor to conduct a performance audit of DPP’s processes for reviewing building permits.

Building and construction industry leaders have been increasingly voicing frustration about the time it takes to get permits approved.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii led the charge to adopt the resolution. Gladys Quinto-Marrone, the organization’s CEO, said in written testimony that the delays have hit the homebuilding industry and homebuyers hard.

At a Council meeting in November, one building industry executive said he had to lay off 30 of 83 carpenters recently in large part because of the delay. It’s commonplace for some contractors to start construction before obtaining a building permit due to financial constraints.

DPP officials said the delays are caused by a variety of issues, including the inability to retain experienced staff and new laws that add more requirements for inspectors to check.

In November, the Council approved Bill 64 (2018), requiring DPP to process applications for one- and two-family dwellings within 60 days of receiving them provided they agree to use the one-time review process. Mayor Kirk Caldwell allowed the bill to become law without his signature.

Caldwell said the 60-day turnaround “can lead to an incomplete review of plans, and if code violations are discovered by inspectors during construction, applicants would face possible notice of violations or revocation of permits.”

Also on Wednesday, the Council:

>> Gave the first of three OKs to Bill 97 (2018), banning Oahu restaurants from handing out single-use plastic straws unless they can prove it would be a financial hardship to not use plastic straws. Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga, chairwoman of the Public Infrastructure, Technology and Sustainability Committee, said she has scheduled a hearing for the bill. The state Legislature is considering several proposals to ban plastic straws statewide, or to at least not distribute them unless requested by a customer.

>> Gave first of three OKs to Bill 96 (2018), relaxing new requirements imposed last year on owners of older high-rise condominiums without sprinklers. The bill makes it easier to obtain life safety evaluations as required under another condo fire safety bill passed last year in response to the 2017 Marco Polo high-rise fire.

>> Gave second reading approval to Bill 83 (2018), allowing motorists to flash their hazard warnings lights when stopped at a crosswalk to help a pedestrian to cross safely. Councilman Ron Menor, the bill’s author, said the intent is to warn other approaching vehicles to stop.

>> Gave second reading approval to Bill 73 (2018), installing parking meters in the parking lots at Aala and Kamamalu parks. The meters would allow motorists to park up to three hours at $1.50 an hour. The bill also increases the rate at the Honolulu Zoo parking lot to $1.50 an hour from $1 an hour.