COM 0471.005 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Honorable J Yoshimoto, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 3 County Code. This ordinance was enacted in 1977, and because ofa State law, H.R.S. Section 46-6, which requires each County to "adopt ordinances to require a subdivider, as a condition of approval of a subdivision, to provide land in perpetuity or to dedicate land for park and playground purposes..." Chapter 8 is broader than rezoning in that it also applies to new subdivisions and multi-family buildings. It is ineffective in creating parks, however, because of a clause that states that it does not apply in districts where there are already more than 5 acres of parks per 1,000 persons, and includes all State and County park acreage, developed and undeveloped. This means that it excludes all the districts with major subdivision and multi-family development, such as North Kona and South Kohala. In these districts, while there is much less than 5 acres per 1,000 residents of developed park facilities, there are large undeveloped facilities, such as the Kekaha Kai State Park. Chapter 8 could be revised to only refer to developed park areas, of the active neighborhood and playground/ball field type, and if it continues to have an exclusion on the grounds that there already is "enough" park area of that type, this should count only parks within a set radius of the development, rather than the district as a whole. The districts are so large that neighborhood playgrounds in one area do not do much for people living in other areas. It may be that this bill is motivated by a concern over excessive growth on the island, and is intended to create a moratorium on new zoning. If the desired goal is to slow growth until parks and other public facilities catch up, this bill is not a productive tool. A moratorium on zoning, or even on new subdivisions and apartment buildings, would not prevent the island's population increase. Growth on the island mostly occurs on land with zoning and subdivision approvals granted previously. More than 50% of the new homes on the island in the past decade were built in the 1950's to 1970's era subdivisions, like Hawaiian Paradise Park or Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Fewer than 5% were built on areas rezoned in the past 10 years, partially because of the long development time between rezoning and development, partially because of market factors. The older subdivisions are still less than 50% built out. There is also major growth built into the current approvals for the coastal resorts in North Kona and South Kohala, into Waikoloa Village, the Parker 2020 zoning in Waimea, Kohala Ranch Project IV, and several zoned areas in Hilo. This means that rezoning is not necessary to have construction or land development, to the extent that this is desired for jobs or economic growth, but well-placed rezoning can improve the current land use pattern, especially in the Kailua-Kona area. The Community Development Plans (CDP's) have a clear message and direction for growth and development. In general, it is a slow growth/preservationist message. In North Kona, the CDP supports the infill development of the area between Palani Road and Keauhou, and north of Pal ani Road to the Palamanui project, to create a more compact, less auto-dependent community. The proposed "transit-oriented developments" and "traditional neighborhoods" are mostly zoned for agriculture and will have to be