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The county council shall adopt by ordinance a general plan which shall set forth the council's long-range policy for the comprehensive physical, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural wellbeing of the county. The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other purposes which shall be consistent with proper conservation of natural resources and the preservation of our natural beauty and historical sites; the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the County; a system of principal thoroughfares, highways, streets, public access to the shorelines, and other open spaces; the general locations, relocations and improvement ofpublic buildings; the general location and extent ofpublic utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned, for water, sewers, light, power, transit and other purposes; the extent and location ofpublic housingprojects; adequate drainage facilities and control; air pollution; and such other matter as may, in the Council 's judgment, promote the general welfare, health, and prosperity of its people. The Charter further provides that the council shall enact zoning, subdivision, and such other ordinances as necessary to carry out the purpose of the General Plan. No public improvement or project, or subdivision or zoning ordinance, shall be initiated or adopted unless it conforms to and implements the General Plan. Amendments to the General Plan may be initiated by the council or the planning director. Section 1-3. History of the General Plan Program. Planning efforts in Hawaii County began in the late 1950s as district -specific initiatives, including A Plan for Kona (1960), A Plan for the Metropolitan Area of Hilo (1961), and The Kohala-Hamakua Region General Plan (1963). These regional plans were adopted by Ordinance No. 317 in 1965 as the General Plan for the County but lacked a coordinated, islandwide framework. Ka`u was not covered by these initial plans. With adoption and ratification of the Hawaii County Charter in 1968, the General Plan emerged as a major policy document guiding the comprehensive, long-range development of the island. Following the Charter's adoption, the County undertook a coordinated, islandwide planning effort. The County's first General Plan was adopted on December 15, 1971, establishing a planning hierarchy that remains in effect today. The hierarchy consists of three interrelated levels: ii