HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A power struggle is firing up over who controls major affordable housing projects between the state and counties.

The governor and state lawmakers have taken away the county’s ability to add special conditions to the projects when they add costs.

The debate almost killed a 750-unit affordable project in West Kapolei.

State Rep. Luke Evslin, chair of the House Housing Committee, supported Senate Bill 38 , which was later signed by the governor into Act 294 after an initial consideration of a veto.

“What the law is intended to do is streamline affordable housing development,” Evslin said.

But at a hearing on the Kapolei development, Honolulu Council Planning Committee chair described her dissatisfaction with the new law, which she said “undermine the importa

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