A City Council bill that proposes a moratorium on the construction of larger developments from Aiea to Kalihi is generating support from several residents and officials who view the measure as a way to help address traffic congestion.

But it is opposed by some city leaders concerned about the potential impacts on affordable housing and other legalities.

The proposed moratorium would prohibit the city from issuing and accepting applications for building and grading permits on projects near the Halawa Interchange to around Gulick Avenue in Kalihi for six months. Introduced by Council members Carol Fukunaga and Joey Manahan, Bill 11 seeks to bring stakeholders together to study and evaluate transportation improvements and mitigation efforts as many residents voice ongoing concerns with daily traffic gridlock.

Exemptions to the bill include rail construction, maintenance and improvements to existing buildings, and developments that generate fewer than 200 vehicle trips per day.

The bill was advanced by the Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee at a meeting Thursday. The Council’s Transportation Committee also sent for a Council vote a resolution Thursday that would urge the city and the state to expedite the completion of a study of the H-1 freeway corridor and to study projects to address traffic congestion in the Aiea, Red Hill, Moanalua and Salt Lake areas.

“The traffic nightmare is becoming a constant reality,” Fukunaga said Thursday, adding that when drivers take side streets through Moanalua and Salt Lake it further backs up traffic. “Our goal is not to target any individual project. It’s really to pair a moratorium on development with a set of traffic and transportation solutions by bringing all the appropriate folks to the table.”

Much of Thursday’s discussion focused on a plan by developer Douglas Emmett to add about 490 workforce housing units to the existing Moanalua Hillside Apartments. Lori Lum, who spoke on behalf of the company, said the rental units would be studios and one-bedroom apartments that would range from 80 percent to 110 percent of the area median income.

Lum estimated that at least 50 percent of Moanalua Hillside’s existing units are 80 percent of area median income and below. There are 931 parking stalls provided for Moanalua Hillside’s existing 696 rentals and 625 stalls for the new units will be added.

“We are a stakeholder deeply committed to the community and to the neighborhood. We do support the community,” said Lum, adding that they have worked with the state Department of Transportation on mitigation efforts. “We are serious about coming to the table and helping the traffic plans, and we just don’t believe this bill is the best method to do that. We need affordable workforce rental units.”

Representatives from the Hawaii Construction Alliance and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters testified Thursday against the bill.

But several Moanalua residents testified in support of the bill, contending that the additional units at Moanalua Hillside would lead to more traffic congestion in the already busy corridor.

Mary Jean Castillo, a six-year resident of nearby Moanalua Village, told Council members that in addition to the traffic congestion, finding on-street parking has become a “nightmare.” Castillo, along with about 175 other residents, submitted a petition to the Council urging them to, among other things, pass Bill 11. The petition also stated that the residents protest the city issuing building permits to certain projects in the Aiea, Red Hill, Moanalua and Salt Lake areas.

“Heavy traffic congestion is eminent during the morning and the afternoon rush hours when the parents are transporting their children to and from the school,” Castillo said. “The impact of building another 500 units will ultimately cost the city and state money in the future.”

George Atta, city Department of Planning and Permitting director, said Thursday that he does not support the bill because it will not solve traffic congestion. He added that if a development meets all of the requirements, he is required to issue a building permit. Atta also pointed out that it is not one developer’s responsibility to solve regional transportation congestion and problems.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell also expressed concerns about the moratorium at a Wednesday budget news conference.

“Traffic can be studied and looked at, but at the end of the day this is about affordable rentals for people who don’t own as many cars,” Caldwell said.

Committee Chairman Ikaika Anderson said Thursday that he supports affordable housing. He added that he would advance the bill for adoption but that he wants to hold an informational briefing with the DOT and the city Department of Transportation Services before taking further action on the bill during the committee’s next meeting.

He also expressed concerns that the bill might be seen as targeting Douglas Emmett’s project.

“Workforce housing in particular is something that is sorely needed,” Anderson said.

Star-Advertiser reporter Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.