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<br /> Nov 15 06 12:05p M&D LOEWEMTHRL 808-323-3282 p.1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> HE NOU 15 P~1.'_ 07 <br /> COUNCIL TESTIMONY BILL309- NOV. 15, 2006 MEETING AGENDA 4 PAG <br /> Dear County Council, C^..' .Page~'I <br /> COltN 1; <br /> PRIOR KNOWLEDGE <br /> I am submitting this testimony as part of ongoing information establishing prior <br /> knowledge for this County Council of environmental standards in relation to land use <br /> decisions. <br /> SUBSTANDARD ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION <br /> Throughout my testimony on the proposed F-2 General Plan Interim Amendment, <br /> I have repeatedly brought to the attention of the Council that environmental criteria <br /> applied to the Pali uplands of Kealakekua Bay affected by F-2 are inadequate, antiquated <br /> and far behind programs being implemented and enforced by other Counties and States to <br /> protect natural resources, unique habitats and coastal waters. <br /> There appears to be a curious disassociation on part of the ruling majority of the present <br /> Council in perceiving the crucial relationship between land-use decisions and land-based <br /> pollution impacting the coastal environment. <br /> <br /> Our County has no proactive integrated comprehensive regulatory programs to protect <br /> the water quality of our coastal eco-systems. Yet, the ruling majority of the Council is <br /> making critical large-scale development and land designation decisions without regard <br /> for current knowledge on adverse impacts to watershed and marine environments. <br /> <br /> CESSPOOLS <br /> As an example, I had discussed the fact that the F-2 lands, nearly 100 acres of land above <br /> Kealakekua Bay and Marine Life Conservation District, are only required to have <br /> individual cesspools for dwellings. At present zoning 2 acre lots are minimum. If F-2 <br /> passes, owners will be entitled to apply for rezoning allowing further sub-division. <br /> Here we have a situation where Hawaii County's present environmental law allows use <br /> of individual cesspools on 100 acres over pristine Kealakekua Bay. The Planning <br /> Director and County Council should be adopting, implementing and enforcing much <br /> higher standards to protect our coastal waters. They should be legislating County <br /> ordinance to outlaw individual cesspools, esp. in such an environmentally sensitive area.. <br /> Instead, they turn their attention to giving this one developer, Captain Cook Ranch, LLC, <br /> a land use designation facilitating higher density development over the Bay. <br /> <br /> <br /> QUESTIONABLE TESTIMONY <br /> Addendum A is a page from Attorney Mike Gibson's testimony. A request was made for <br /> an F-2 restrictive covenant to include mandatory septic systems. <br /> Captain Cook Ranch, LLC, refused that request. <br /> <br /> <br /> A. Nc. 4(oq.Iyo <br /> kpf. To: hi/tr~M <br /> Ref. Uete_ M 5--~_ <br />