COM 0939.028 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7/31/2006 11:08 AM FROM: Fax TO: 961-8912 PAGE: 402 OF 002 Consideration for a marina project immediately draws attention to community benefit. The facility management of the state's small boat harbors continues to be an issue and without legislative support to finance improvements. On July 29, 2006, Richard Rice, the state administrator for the DLNR boating division resigned, following the recent legislative audit that reiterated previous findings: "The boating program's mismanagement and neglect have deteriorated facilities to the point where their continued use threatens public safety." According to DLNR Director Peter Young, Ed Underwood has been named the new acting head of the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). Funding from the legislature continues to be elusive for harbor development, improvement, and maintenance. The BLNR solicited proposals to expand Honokohau Harbor and to include marina facilities. The private/public partnership is a means to fund the state harbor development to a viable and revenue producing facility. The DHHL adjacent project is part of their long-term master plan to generate economic opportunity for Native Hawaiians and the greater community, and to generate revenue that will help place Hawaiians on DHHL lands. DLNR and DHHL have set restricting conditions on development at the harbor and adjacent lands. As a part of the developer requirements, JDI submitted the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) on July 8, 2006 to the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC), which is available for review on the OEQC public website, and with the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Final Environmental Impact Statement to follow. All submissions to the OEQC are open to public comment. OEQC procedures protect all environmental and cultural preservation concerns. In the Final EIS, the developer outlines any mitigation measures required to address impacts. Project feasibility meets stringent demands through routine procedures and, in this case, project feasibility meets additional requirements imposed by DLNR and DHHL. The project is also subject to additional approval procedures. In the event that mitigation measures are beyond available technology, or required measures are cost prohibitive, the project will terminate. JDI has a stellar reputation for environmental responsibility and is willing to work with the community to improve existing infrastructure deficiencies in the project area. The February 2005 General Plan amendment changed the project land use designations, after DLNR and DHHL published RFPs, and after DLNR and DHHL each selected JDI to develop their portion of the project. The current action before the County Council requests the restoration of land use designations that existed when DLNR and DHHL initiated actions and chose JDI to develop the Honokohau Harbor marina/mixed-use project. I urge the County Council to approve the Interim General Plan amendments. The Kona Kai Ola project should move through required feasibility and approval procedures based on project merits. Sincerely, Barbara E. Scott 2