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:• The remaining descriptive text will be edited and placed in a document called the County <br />Profile, which should be updated by the Planning Department, and may be used to <br />formulate the basis of development plans. <br />4• Draft 2 retains the Intensive and Extensive Agriculture Designations and deletes the <br />Important Agricultural Lands Designation pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii <br />that mandates the State Legislature to identify important agricultural lands in the State of <br />Hawaii and to establish standards and criteria to accomplish this identification. The <br />identification and protection of important agricultural lands by the State remains a land use <br />objective with a related comprehensive important agricultural lands policy. <br />Draft 2 changes the Rural Designation to Rural -Agriculture Designation and expands its <br />definition to include future areas that meet criteria and may provide transition between <br />agricultural and urban forms. <br />General Plan amendment procedures have been moved to a new bill amending Chapter 16 <br />(Planning), Hawai'i County Code. <br />Noteworthy LUPAG and Facilities Maps revisions (modifications and initiations) are listed at <br />the end of this report. <br />BACKGROUND <br />By letter dated January 22, 2002, Planning Director Chris Yuen transmitted Bill No. 163 relating <br />to the comprehensive General Plan review as required by the General Plan Ordinance No. 89- <br />142, as amended. <br />The Planning Committee began its review under Planning Committee Chair Bobby Jean <br />Leithead-Todd on February 20, 2002, at a regular meeting in Hilo followed by two workshops, a <br />site visit, eight public hearings throughout the island, two more workshops, two regular <br />meetings, and three workshops. With the resignation of Council Member Leithead-Todd, <br />Council Member Leningrad Elarionoff became the new Planning Chair in October 2003. <br />Another workshop was held on December 18, 2003 to concentrate and renew efforts on the <br />comprehensive review. <br />As a result of the 19 meetings held on Bill 163, Planning Committee members asked that the <br />Legislative Auditor's Office review and revise Bill No. 163 with the goal of making the General <br />Plan succinct and understandable. Public testimony and Council Members requested a vision <br />statement be added to the General Plan. We have since worked with Planning Committee <br />Chair Elarionoff and interested Council Members to prepare a document that incorporates these <br />and other suggestions into Bill No. 163, Draft 2. Meetings were facilitated between Planning <br />Director Yuen and Council Members to discuss specific changes related to their respective <br />districts. Public communications and Planning Committee meeting minutes were evaluated. <br />A chart entitled 'Proposed General Plan Revisions --Draft 1 to Draft 2 --Modifications & Initiations <br />(Additions)' is attached to assist you in understanding the actions taken on Bill No. 163. The <br />chart explains the action taken on Draft 1 (using Green Ramseyer version) to amend it to Draft 2 <br />by page, paragraph, or bullet. The chart shows whether existing paragraphs, goals, policies <br />and standards in Draft 1 were kept, moved, edited, deleted or added. New element and/or <br />sections are specifically addressed in a chart entitled 'Additions." Words of caution: Even if the <br />chart shows that an amendment was added, it may actually be a restatement of existing <br />