SMA Major Permit - Council Resolution Granting a Special Management Area Major Permit

Sep 1, 2026

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Council resolution template granting a Special Management Area (SMA) Major Permit, optionally combined with a Shoreline Setback Variance (SSV), to allow construction on specified land in O‘ahu. It establishes the procedural record (application acceptance, public hearing, DPP findings and City Council approval) and requires the project to be in general conformity with referenced DPP exhibits. Conditions focus on minimizing coastal-hazard impacts through adaptation and design measures, pervious surface materials, hazard awareness statements on building plans, and protection of beach sands and coastal dunes, including limits on landscaping and irrigation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Granting the SMA Major Permit

Application, Hearing, and DPP Transmission

City Council Approval and Conditions

Coastal Hazard Minimization Conditions

Beach Sands and Coastal Dunes Protection

[Template – SMA Major Permit] GRANTING A SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA MAJOR PERMIT [if also SSV: AND SHORELINE SETBACK VARIANCE] TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF * IN *, O‘AHU. WHEREAS, on *, the Department of Planning and Permitting ("DPP") accepted the application (DPP Reference Number[s] */SMA-* [if SSV: and */SV-*]) of * [if Applicant is not the landowner: , on behalf of *] (the "Applicant") for a Special Management Area ("SMA") Major Permit [if SSV: and a Shoreline Setback Variance ("SSV")] to allow for the construction of * on approximately [insert area] of land zoned *, located at *, and identified as Tax Map Key *-*-***:*** (the "Project"); and WHEREAS, on *, the DPP held a public hearing on the application at *, which was attended by *, DPP staff members, and * members of the public; and at which * people testified in support, * people testified in opposition, and * people provided comment; and WHEREAS, on *, within 45 calendar days after the close of the public hearing [if extension, replace with: within * calendar days after the close of the public hearing, (the Applicant having agreed to an extension of the 45-calendar-day transmission deadline)], the DPP, having duly considered all evidence and the objectives, policies, and guidelines as established in §§ 25-3.1 and 25-4.1, [if SSV, replace with: §§ 25-3.1, 25-4.1, 26-1.8, and 26-1.9,] Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 2021 ("ROH"), and §§ 205A-2 and 205A-26, [if SSV, replace with: §§ 205A-2, 205A-26, and 205A-46,] Hawaii Revised Statutes ("HRS"), completed its report and transmitted its findings and recommendation of approval to the City Council ("Council"); and WHEREAS, the Council, having received the findings and recommendation of the DPP on ____________________, by Departmental Communication ___ (____), and having duly considered all of the findings and reports on the matter, desires to approve the subject application for an SMA Major Permit [if SSV: and SSV] subject to the conditions enumerated below; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that an SMA Major Permit [if SSV: and an SSV)] be issued to the Applicant for the Project, subject to the following conditions: A. Development must be in general conformity with the Project as described in the DPP's findings and recommendation, referenced above, and as depicted in Exhibits * through * attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein. Any change in the size or nature of the Project that may have a significant effect on coastal resources, as addressed in ROH Chapter 25 [if SSV: and Chapter 26] or HRS Chapter 205A, or both, will require a new application and SMA Major Permit [if SSV: and SSV]. Any new application for an SMA Major Permit for the Project will be processed in accordance with the ordinances in effect at the time the application is accepted by the DPP. Any change that does not have a significant effect on coastal resources may be considered a minor modification and may be permitted under this resolution, upon review and approval by the Director of Planning and Permitting ("DPP Director"). [List conditions as appropriate; frequently imposed conditions are provided below.] __. [Minimizing impacts of coastal hazards.] In order to minimize the potential for adverse impacts related to coastal hazards, including but not limited to sea level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, wave action, and storm surge, prior to the approval of any development permits, the Applicant shall incorporate additional adaptation and design measures into the Project plans submitted to the DPP for review, as follows: 1. [Use of pervious surface materials.] The Applicant shall use pervious surface materials for the driveway such as, but not limited to, grasscrete or grass block pavers. [If applicable: Similarly, except for the garage and storage area, the Applicant shall use pervious surface materials for the area under the elevated structure. The pervious material used for the drivew

FAQs

What does an SMA Major Permit resolution authorize under this template?

It authorizes issuance of an SMA Major Permit to the applicant for the project, allowing construction in a Special Management Area (and optionally an SSV if requested).

What is the required timeline after the public hearing in this resolution?

The DPP completes its report and transmits its findings and recommendation within 45 calendar days after the close of the public hearing, unless an extension is agreed to.

What types of conditions does the resolution impose on the applicant’s development?

Conditions require general conformity with the DPP’s findings and exhibits, prohibit changes with significant effects without a new SMA Major Permit, and mandate measures to minimize coastal hazards and protect beach sands and coastal dunes.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Aditya