Public Hearing on Leeward Oahu School Impact Fees
News Release from Hawaii DoE
Developers of new residential units in the proposed Leeward Oahu School Impact District will be required to donate land and/or pay fees for public schools under State law. A public hearing to discuss the new school impact fees will be held at Waipahu High School library on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at 3:00 p.m.
The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) is authorized by State law (Chapter 302A-1601 to1612), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to collect impact fees from all new residential development in designated areas. The law requires the designation of impact districts across the state and sets a formula for calculating the amount of land and fees applied to each new single-family and multi-family unit built, including houses built by individual landowners on individual vacant lots. Land and fees collected will be used for new schools and facilities to accommodate students residing in the new residential units.
The large number of proposed new housing units planned for Leeward Oahu School District over the next 20 to 25 years indicates the need for additional DOE schools. Existing schools within the proposed impact district may be able to accommodate some additional students, but most of the proposed growth areas either lack existing schools nearby or their area schools are approaching capacity.
A public hearing will be held to discuss the Leeward Oahu Impact Fee District, which covers areas served by the Aiea Complex (Aiea, Pearl Ridge, Scott, Waimalu, Webling, Aiea Inter, Aiea High), Campbell Complex (Ewa, Ewa Beach, Holomua, Iroquois Point, Kaimiloa, Keoneula, Pohakea, Ewa Makai Middle, Ilima Inter, Campbell High), Kapolei Complex (Barbers Point, Kapolei, Makakilo, Mauka Lani, Kapolei Middle, Kapolei High), Pearl City Complex (Kanoelani, Lehua, Manana, Momilani, Palisades, Pearl City, Pearl City Highlands, Waiau, Highlands Inter, Pearl City High), and Waipahu Complex (August Ahrens, Honowai, Kaleiopuu, Waikele, Waipahu, Waipahu Inter, Waipahu High).
At the hearing, plans for the impact fees will be reviewed. The Hawaii State Board of Education will consider public comments when taking action on the proposed district in 2012. Public comments can be submitted at the meeting or emailed to heidi_meeker@notes.k12.hi.us. A map and information regarding the proposed Leeward Oahu School Impact District is available at http://doe.k12.hi.us. Copies are also available at the DOE Leeward Oahu District Office at 601 Kamokila Blvd., #418, Kapolei, HI; or the DOE Central Oahu District Office at the Leilehua Building, Suite 50, Mililani Technology Park, 300 Kahelu Avenue, Mililani, HI or by calling the DOE Facilities Development Branch at 808-377-8301 ext. 227.
-DOE-
Visit http://doe.k12.hi.us to download the following attachments:
- Leeward Impact District Map
- Leeward Oahu Impact District Draft Analysis
- Leeward Oahu Impact School District Public Notice
CB: Public Hearing On Leeward Oahu School Impact Fees
Hawaii County Rejects DoE Impact Fees
WHT: In a letter to Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi dated Sept. 8, DOE Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi spelled out the department's case.
She said the county has a legal obligation to deny building permits to applicants who haven't paid impact fees the Board of Education approved last year. The impact fee district would include an area from Kawaihae to Kealakekua Bay that would include Waimea.
"The statute states this is a county responsibility," DOE Assistant Superintendent Randy Moore said. The DOE wants the county to inform it when someone applies for a building permit. Then the DOE would bill the permit applicant and inform the county when the fee was paid. Only then could a permit be issued.
The fees were to go into effect July 1, 2010 but the state postponed their imposition after the county objected to being the only spot at the time subject to the fees. The DOE in the interim has started collecting fees on Maui.
"If the DOE believes it can unilaterally impose a fee on the people of West Hawaii they're mistaken," Kenoi said….
Read … State DOE says county must comply with school impact fee