ORD 2008-001 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MtV or N ~~~C COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII 08 1 BILLNO. ins ORDINANCE NO. (DRAFT a ) ORDINANCE TO INITIATE A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, CHAPTER 4, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER (2000), ESTABLISHING WINDWARD AND LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSIONS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to initiate an amendment to the Hawaii County Charter that would provide for two planning commissions in Hawaii County. Over the past several decades population growth has resulted in an unprecedented rise in development activity particularly affecting the leeward region of Hawaii County. It is estimated that most of the construction and development occurring in leeward Hawaii is the result of rezoning applications approved many years ago. Baseline information indicates that the windward district is also experiencing an unprecedented rise in development activity and infrastructure pressures similar to that which has manifested in leeward Hawaii over the years. This alarming rate of growth affecting both the windwazd and leeward areas of Hawaii County and potential impacts resulting from proposed future developments and pending rezoning requests justify the creation of two planning commissions to serve Hawaii County. Two independent planning commissions would be better equipped to focus on issues specific to the respective affected districts and thus promote clear and concise regional discussions regarding levels of service, mitigation measures and future planning deficits. The two independent planning commissions would focus deliberations upon and assure sensitive consideration of the unique demographics within Hawaii County. Two independent planning commissions would eliminate the perception of a "one-size-fits-all" method of planning. This proposal would create a windwazd planning commission and a leeward planning commission based upon judicial districts and as demarcated by district boundazies set forth in §4- 1(1), Haw. Rev. Stat., which provides as follows: "...(1) The island and County of Hawaii shall be divided into nine districts as follows: (A) Puna, to be styled the Puna district; (B) From the Hakalau stream to the boundary of South Hilo and Puna, to be styled the South Hilo district; (C) From the boundary of the Hamakua and North Hilo to the Hakalau stream, to be styled the North Hilo district; (D) Hamakua, to be styled the Hamakua district; (E) North Kohala, to be styled the North Kohala district; (F) South Kohala, to be styled the South Kohala district; (G) North Kona„ to be styled the North Kona district; (H) South Kona, to be styled the South Kona district; and