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C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. <br />Mayor <br />William V. Brilhanle, Jr. <br />Managing Director <br />West Hawaii Office <br />745044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawai'I 96740 <br />Phone (808) 323-4770 <br />Fax (808) 327-3563 <br />April 6, 2026 <br />Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz <br />Hawaii County Council <br />25 Aupuni Street <br />Hilo, HI, 96720 <br />County of Hawaii <br />PLANNING DEPARTMENT <br />Jeffrey W. Darrow <br />Director <br />Michelle S. Ahn <br />Deputy Director <br />East Hawaii Office <br />101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 <br />Hilo, Hawari 96720 <br />Phone (808) 961-8288 <br />Fax (8(i 961-EFJ2 <br />`o CDn <br />C <br />� ac <br />z -1z <br />a o-< <br />nc; <br />�r <br />�T <br />Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz and Members of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use <br />and Economic Development: <br />Subject: Testimony from March 10, 2026, Related to Draft General Plan 2026 — <br />Communication No. 372-192 <br />My name is Jeffrey Darrow, and I am the current Planning Director for the County of <br />Hawaii. Under Chapter 7 of the Hawaii County Charter, part of my responsibility as the <br />Planning Director is to advise the Mayor, the Planning Commissions, and the Hawaii <br />County Council on all planning and land use matters. Another part of my responsibility <br />as Planning Director is to prepare a general plan, implementation plans, and any other <br />amendments thereto in accordance with Section 3-15 of the Charter. <br />Planning Director Duane Kanuha initiated the Comprehensive General Plan review <br />process on February 6, 2015. This process has continued since then, through four (4) <br />Administrations, four (4) Mayors, and four (4) Planning Directors. As required by law, <br />there has been tremendous public participation and input from the state and county <br />agencies, which is meticulously documented on our website. The proposed Draft <br />General Plan 2026 was submitted at the end of COB on March 4, 2026. This draft is <br />referred to as "Draft General Plan 2026" and is intended to substitute "Appendix A" <br />which is the current Draft General Plan 2045. <br />After my review of the Draft General Plan 2026, 1 do not consider this as an amendment <br />to the proposed Draft General Plan 2045, but a complete rewrite and consider it as a <br />new draft plan. Based on Section 226-58 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes, "the county <br />general plans and development plans shall be formulated with input from the state and <br />county agencies as well as the general public." This new draft plan did not receive input <br />ifrbYn either 1JU0 to jyst beforb the March 10th hearing, I did not see any public comments <br />ongthis proposed new draft submitted to the County Council. <br />Comm. No. Gil.1 qLF <br />www.olanning.hawaiicountv.gov Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />Ref. To. <br />Ref. Date APR - 7 2026 <br />