Da Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) like make da building permit process mo’ fasta so da backlog no stay so big. Da city stay considering one bill wea da kine architects and engineers gotta say da plans dey submit follow all da rules and laws.?♂️??
Wait time fo’ da permits stay long time, almost one year, and DPP trying fo’ find ways fo’ make da line go mo’ fasta. City Council Chair, Tommy Waters, wen introduce Bill 6, wea give DPP da powa fo’ use t’ird party reviewers wea get supervision by DPP staff. ??
Da new ting fo’ da process goin’ be self-certifying licensed architects and engineers who gotta say da plans and oddah tings dey submit stay true and correct. If da bill pass, dis self-certification goin’ end aftah seven years. ⏳?
Da DPP Director, Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, say dey support da bill. She like make sure dat dea stay penalties fo’ outside contractors who no tell da truth to da city, so no mo’ cutting corners.??
In March, Takeuchi Apuna wen ask fo’ $34.6 million fo’ hire mo’ staff and fix technology so can handle da backlog of building permit applications. DPP get 105 jobs need filling, and da proposal get some problems fo’ da Hawaii Government Employees Association, says Kauanui Sabas.??
Da DPP should invest in da public employees fo’ help wit da permit process, and no just use t’ird party reviewers, Sabas say.??
At one committee meeting, Council member Radiant Cordero wen ask how penalties goin’ work and how much dey goin’ be. DPP look at oddah places like Chicago, New York, and Arizona fo’ example of how fo’ do da self-certification ting.?️?
Dey also could do audits fo’ make sure da work stay up to code. Right now, about 60% of plan checks stay done by t’ird party reviewers. ??
In 2022, one audit wen show some of da reviewers no stay doing da job dey suppose to. DPP rules say dey can kick out or penalize reviewers who no do da job right.??
One time, DPP wen blame one t’ird party reviewer fo’ giving one building permit dat no should have been given. Da project wen turn out fo’ be one “monster home” in Kalihi area, and da city wen revoke da building permit and issue one stop-work order. ??
DPP wen use t’ird party reviewers fo’ while now, but no use self-certification befo’. Bill 6 get support from da Hawaii Solar Energy Association, who like see accountability fo’ self-certification process.??
Vice Chair Esther Kia‘aina stay tink DPP staff, not t’ird party reviewers, should handle da historic preservation kine tings. She worry about projects dat might mess wit iwi kupuna, archaeological sites, and oddah historic and cultural places.??
Da zoning committee goin’ talk story about da bill again in May.??️
NOW IN ENGLISH
??️ Honolulu Aiming to Speed Up Building Permit Process!
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) is looking to speed up the building permit process and reduce the backlog. The city is considering a bill where architects and engineers would have to attest that the plans they submit comply with all rules and regulations.?♂️??
With a current wait time of almost a year, the DPP is trying to find ways to expedite the process. City Council Chair, Tommy Waters, introduced Bill 6, which would give the DPP the authority to continue using third-party reviewers overseen by DPP staff. ??
The new aspect of the process would involve self-certifying licensed architects and engineers who have to attest that the plans and other data they submit are true and correct. If the bill passes, this self-certification would be repealed after seven years. ⏳?
DPP Director, Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, expressed support for the bill. She wants to ensure there are penalties for outside contractors who provide false information to the city, to prevent cutting corners.??
In March, Takeuchi Apuna requested $34.6 million to hire more staff and improve technology to handle the backlog of building permit applications. The DPP has 105 vacancies to be filled, and the proposal has some issues for the Hawaii Government Employees Association, as noted by Kauanui Sabas.??
Sabas suggests the DPP should invest in public employees to help with the permit process, rather than relying solely on third-party reviewers.??
At a committee meeting, Council member Radiant Cordero asked about how penalties would work and their potential amounts. The DPP has looked at other places like Chicago, New York, and Arizona for examples of self-certification processes.?️?
Audits could also be conducted to ensure the work is up to code. Currently, about 60% of plan checks are done by third-party reviewers. ??
In 2022, an audit showed that some reviewers were not fulfilling their responsibilities. DPP rules state that they can remove or penalize reviewers who are not doing their job properly.??
At one point, the DPP blamed a third-party reviewer for granting an unwarranted building permit. The project turned out to be a “monster home” in the Kalihi area, and the city revoked the building permit and issued a stop-work order. ??
DPP has been using third-party reviewers for some time, but has not used self-certification before. Bill 6 has received support from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, which advocates for accountability in the self-certification process.??
Vice Chair Esther Kia‘aina believes DPP staff, not third-party reviewers, should handle matters related to historic preservation. She is concerned about projects that might disturb iwi kupuna, archaeological sites, and other historic and cultural locations.??
The zoning committee will discuss the bill again in May.??️
