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There is no denying that over the years, the "mid level" implementation efforts have largely been non- <br /> existent and thus, the burden of implementing the General Plan has been left to the "action" <br /> (administrative) level of government. <br /> It is not surprising, then, that many of the proposals advanced in Bill No. 163, Draft 1 appear to bring <br /> more specificity to the various elements and sub-elements of the General Plan in an effort to' regulate <br /> and enforce' rather than to implement its policies. The Council should carefully consider the long-term <br /> ramifications of this shift in planning philosophy. <br /> Fundamentally, the Council has no choice in the matter; the statutes and Charter are clear: the General <br /> Plan is the comprehensive policy planning document of the County. Changes to such a document should <br /> not be made nor taken lightly, and the Council should carefully consider each and every amendment to <br /> ensure that the integrity of the plan is maintained. Revisions should strengthen the policy aspects of the <br /> plan and not burden the document by the inclusion of procedural and other implementing details that <br /> could inhibit and constrain the equal application of County policy on a comprehensive rather than site <br /> specific or issue specific basis. <br /> It is very important that the Council understand the philosophy of the General Plan, for without it, it could <br /> easily turn into a document that may not follow the framework envisioned by its founders in statutes and <br /> the Hawaii County Charter. <br /> What must this Genera/ P/an amendment o~ revision process aaaomp/ish? <br /> Chapter 46-4, Hawai i Revised Statutes, requires the preparation of a comprehensive general plan to <br /> <br /> guide the overall future deve%pmentof the county. The Charter provides similar language. The Council's <br /> role is clear in that all revisions or amendments to the General Plan shall ensure that they are, in the <br /> <br /> Council's judgement, beneficial to the social, economic, and governmental conditions and trends of the <br /> <br /> County; to assure the coordinated development of the County; and to promote the general welfare and <br /> prosperity of its people. Considered revisions should be positive rather than negative; inclusive rather than <br /> <br /> exclusive; and more importantly, be thoughtful and have foresight. <br /> MAJOR CHANGES BETWEEN DRAFT 2 AND DRAFT 3 <br /> Statutory Authority <br /> Chapter 226-58, HRS, has been added to Draft 3. It was not cited in Drafts 1 or 2. <br /> General Plan Program Implementation <br /> Draft 2 contains the statement "It is therefore, not intended to be regulatory like the zoning code <br /> or other land use regulations, but flexible and resilient." This statement has created <br /> misunderstanding and confusion as to the mandatory role of the General Plan as a County policy <br /> document and has thus been deleted in Draft 3. The General Plan is the Council's comprehensive <br /> policy document for directing the future of the Big Island, and serves as the legal foundation for all <br /> of the other elements of the County's planning structure, including the adoption of such <br /> implementing, rather than regulatory, mechanisms such as the zoning and subdivision codes, or <br /> other land use reviews and standards. In this enabling context, the General Plan is clearly non- <br /> regulatory and thus no further statement in that regard is deemed necessary. <br /> 3 <br /> <br />