The House Committee on Housing on March 21 adopted HCR 66 / HR 60, a concurrent resolution requesting that the State Building Code Council adopt, amend or update the state building code to authorize “point access block” (single-stair or point-access) construction for residential buildings up to six stories.

Supporters told the committee that point-access construction is being authorized in other states and can reduce construction costs and allow a wider variety of unit types. "Point access block construction or a single stair construction is gaining traction across The United States, especially in communities that are trying to alleviate their chronic housing shortage," a testifier identified in the record said, listing state action in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington in support of the approach.

During the committee’s discussion, the chair of the committee praised the resolution’s intent. The chair said the United States often requires double-loaded corridors with two points of access, which raises construction costs, and that single-stair designs under six stories allow more design flexibility, cross ventilation and lower costs.

The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation to pass the resolution as is. The vote record shows the chair and vice chair voting aye; members recorded as excused for this item included Representatives Cochran, Quila, Kitagawa and La Chica. No members recorded opposing votes during the committee roll call, and the chair announced the recommendation was adopted.

Testimony and record: the committee received at least three pieces of written testimony in support and one in opposition. Named submissions in the record included a supportive testifier listed as Perry Aerosmith (record: “from a housing advocacy group, in support”), written support from the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii (Ted Kefalas), and written opposition from the American Institute of Architects, Hawaii State Council (Julia Fink).

The resolution requests the State Building Code Council to consider authorizing point-access construction; it does not itself change the state building code or adopt construction standards. If the council pursues rulemaking, subsequent proposals would be subject to separate administrative processes.

Votes at a glance: HCR 66 / HR 60 — Chair recommendation: pass as is; outcome: adopted by committee.