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REPORT OF THE POLICY <br />COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, <br />LAND USE, AND DEVELOPMENT <br />DATE: March 5, 2024 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 2:06 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 679/Bill No. 125 <br />Your Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development, to which was referred Bill <br />No. 125, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 125, transmitted by Committee Member Cindy Evans via Communication No. 679, dated <br />January 2, 2024, amends Chapter 6 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended) <br />by adding a new article relating to commercial bicycle tours. <br />The bill seeks to prohibit the operation of commercial bicycle tours on a portion of Kohala <br />Mountain Road and a portion of the Akoni Pule Highway. <br />This bill was previously heard and postponed on January 23, 2024. <br />Planning, Land Use, and Development Committee Meeting of January 23, 2024 <br />Corporation Counsel Judge Strance was available to respond to questions in the Hilo Chambers. <br />Committee Member Cindy Evans stated that the bill regulates guided and unguided commercial <br />bike tours and not bicycles in general. The bill addresses safety concerns on Kohala roads with <br />sharp corners and limited visibility. <br />Committee Members Susan Lee Loy, Heather Kimball, and Jenn Kagiwada all expressed interest <br />in existing tour data. Ms. Lee Loy emphasized revenue potential and community investment, <br />Ms. Kimball wanted to understand negative impacts, and Ms. Kagiwada was interested in hotspot <br />locations. Ms. Evans noted a data deficit. <br />Committee Chair Ashley L. Kierkiewicz and Committee Member Michelle Galimba suggested <br />replacing the designation of restricted biking sites in the bill with the issuance of licenses. <br />Ms. Galimba suggested modeling regulations after Volcano National Park. <br />Ms. Kagiwada asked what is defined as a tour, as the definition was not presented in the bill. <br />PCPLUD Report No. 9 <br />