COM 0045.049 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Genera/ P/an phi/osophy i+evisited? The General Plan as adopted in 1971, and as amended since, was developed as an innovative departure from traditional planning efforts at that time. Whereas previous planning efforts for the County were regional (i.e. Hilo, Kona) and were primarily land use oriented with no real island wide integrative coordination, the 1971 General Plan set forth policy statements to guide the comprehensive future growth of the entire island. Driven by these interrelated elements, the General Plan is a true policy document in that a change in one or more elements would be reflected in a greater or lesser degree in all other elements as well as the land use allocation pattern(s). Similarly, a change in County goals and objectives would in turn be reflected in all elements including the land use allocation pattern(s). The interrelationship of the General Plan elements begins with the Economic Element, the cornerstone that describes the island's economic opportunities and related factors which generate population growth. The Environmental Quality, Energy, Historic Sites, Natural Beauty, and Natural Resources and Shoreline Elements describe those natural and social conditions which influence and set parameters for development opportunities on the island. The Housing, Public Facilities, Flood Control and Drainage, Recreation and Transportation Elements provide guidance to implement those services, facilities and public improvements required to support the economy and associated population growth. The Land Use Element articulates the use allocation and preferred distribution pattern of the various activities described in the other elements of the General Plan, and the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map identifies general locations of categories of use in relation to each other. For example, if the Economic Element gave more weight to the projected economic impact of the military's presence on the Big Island, adjustments would be necessary in all elements to reflect that policy direction. The Energy Element is another example of how the General Plan and its policy-oriented approach responds to changing economic and social trends in a comprehensive manner. The Energy Element was added to the list of original planning elements during the General Plan review of 1978. At that time, Hawai'i's near total dependence on imported petroleum and the gasoline crisis of 1974 launched a Statewide coordinated effort to address Hawai is future energy needs. Although the General Plan mandatory review was primarily with the LUPAG maps, the focus on the Big Island for energy alternatives, such as geothermal and OTEC necessitated the development of a separate General Plan policy element to address the Energy issue in relation to all the other existing policy elements. Drafts 2 and 3 reduced the number of elements from thirteen to seven. Nevertheless, the planning philosophy and methodology have remained the same. As a policy planning document, the General Plan tells us what broad interests we have identified, what to protect, and what to strive for. It does not, however, specifically tell us where, when, how, and in what order a certain program or project should be started in order for us to achieve the kind of future it identifies. That is the role of the "mid level" plans, such as community development plans (CDP's), functional plans (recreation, historic sites, etc.), and area improvement plans (Hilo Downtown Development Plan, Kailua Village Design Plan, Keahole to Kailua Plan, etc.), which, in conjunction with implementing programs at the "action" level of government (capital improvements programs, operating budget, zoning and subdivision codes, park dedication ordinances, etc.) round out our County's comprehensive planning and implementation program. 2