The island of Kauai, Hawaii's progressive shoreline setback and coastal protection ordinance
Approximately two-thirds of coastal and Great Lakes states have some type of shoreline construction setback orconstruction control line requiring development to be a certain distance from the shoreline or other coastal feature(OCRM, 2008). Nineteen of 30 coastal states currently use erosion rates for new construction close to the shoreline.Seven states established setback distances based on expected years from the shoreline: the remainder specify a fixed setback distance (Heinz Report, 2000).Following public hearings by the County of Kauai Planning Commission and Kauai County Council, the ‘ShorelineSetback and Coastal Protection Ordinance’ was signed by the Mayor of Kauai on January 25, 2008. After a year ofexperience implementing this progressive, balanced shoreline setback ordinance several amendments were recentlyincorporated into the Ordinance (#887; Bill #2319 Draft 3). The Kauai Planning Department is presently draftingseveral more amendments to improve the effectiveness of the Ordinance.The intent of shoreline setbacks is to establish a buffer zone to protect shorefront development from loss due tocoastal erosion - for a period of time; to provide protection from storm waves; to allow the natural dynamic cycles of erosion and accretion of beaches and dunes to occur; to maintain beach and dune habitat; and, to maintain lateral beach access and open space for the enjoyment of the natural shoreline environment. In addition, a primary goal of the Kauai setback ordinance is to avoid armoring or hardening of the shore which along eroding coasts has beendocumented to ultimately eliminate the fronting beach. (PDF contains 4 pages)
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| Subjects: | Earth Sciences, Planning, TCS22, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/21601 |
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