The governor of Hawaii is using emergency powers to remove barriers to housing construction.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green earlier this month issued an executive order intended to spur housing construction in the state. The “Emergency Proclamation Relating to Housing,” as the order was titled, suspends state and county laws focusing on land use, historic preservation, and environmental review.
According to an article by Stewart Yerton for Honolulu Civil Beat, the governor cited a state law “giving the governor broad power to suspend laws that impede a response to emergencies such as natural disasters or the coronavirus pandemic” to issue the executive order. “In this case, the emergency is a shortage of housing and the response is to lower regulatory barriers to building homes,” reports Yerton.
Yerton adds that Gov. Green has framed housing prices in the state as an existential threat, “which has seen an outmigration that averaged 20 people per day last year as residents unable to afford the high cost of living fled to the mainland.”
The executive order provoked opposition, however, over concern about “potential exploitation of land and environmental harms with the suspension of many regulations aimed at balancing the need for development with protecting natural and cultural resources,” reports Yerton.
While multiple states have taken steps to preempt local control of land use powers in the name of housing affordability in recent years—namely Oregon, California, Montana, and Vermont—this is the first time such a sweeping act of state preemption has been achieved without approval from the state legislature.
FULL STORY: Hawaii Gov Takes Dramatic Action To Solve Housing Crisis. But Is He Going Too Far?

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont