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"The county council shall adopt by ordinance a general plan which shall set forth the
<br />Council's policy for long-range comprehensive physical development of the County. It
<br />shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect
<br />to the most desirable use of land within the County for residential, recreational,
<br />agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other purposes which shall be consistent with
<br />proper conservation of natural resources and the preservation of our natural beauty and
<br />historical sites; the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the County;
<br />a system of principal thoroughfares, highways, streets, public access to the shoreline, and
<br />other open spaces; the general locations, relocations and improvement of public buildings;
<br />the general location and extent of public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or
<br />privately owned, for water, sewers, light, power, transit and other purposes; the extent and
<br />location of public housing projects; adequate drainage facilities and control, air pollution;
<br />and such other matters as may, in the Council's judgment, be beneficial to the social,
<br />economic, and governmental conditions and trends and shall be designed to assure the
<br />coordinated development of the County and to promote the general welfare and prosperity
<br />of its people.
<br />(a) The Council shall enact zoning, subdivision, and other such ordinances, which
<br />shall contain the necessary provisions to carry out the purpose of the General
<br />Plan.
<br />(b) No public improvement, project, subdivision, or zoning ordinances, shall be
<br />initiated or adopted unless the same conforms to and implements the General Plan.
<br />(c) Amendments to the General Plan may be initiated by the Council or the Planning
<br />Director. "
<br />The first General Plan document to be completed after the ratification of the County
<br />Charter in 1968 was adopted by ordinance on December 15, 1971 by the County Council. Upon
<br />adoption of the General Plan in 1971, the Council laid the foundation for establishing a
<br />comprehensive planning program for the County of Hawaii. This program consists of three
<br />interrelated parts arranged in a hierarchy as described below and illustrated in Figure I.
<br />The General Plan represents the first level and encompasses long-range goals, policies,
<br />standards, and courses of action for the entire County. The General Plan also provides the
<br />legal basis for all of the other elements of the County's planning structure. As such, the
<br />General Plan is the highest order, or "umbrella" plan. It establishes the outer limits or
<br />boundaries within which the County must operate.
<br />The second level consists of short and middle range plans that further define the long-range
<br />goals and policies of the General Plan. These plans are related to specific regions or
<br />districts (Hilo, Kona, Kohala, Ka'u, etc.), functions (recreation, agriculture, drainage,
<br />highways, etc.), and specific areas within a region (Kailua-Kona, Downtown Hilo, etc.).
<br />14
<br />Introduction
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