REP PC 048 05/01/2012 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: May 1, 2012 Re: Comm. No. 670/Bill No. 230 PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i TIME: 1:00 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Comm. No. 670/Bill No. 230, reports as follows: Bill No. 230, transmitted by Mayor William P. Kenoi, via Communication No. 670, dated April 11, 2012, is a Planning Director initiated ordinance amending the County of Hawai`i General Plan as adopted by Ordinance No. 05-25 and amended by Ordinance No. 06-153 by amending map 15 of the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map by changing the Land Use Designation from Urban Expansion to Extensive Agriculture, Low Density Urban, Medium Density Urban and from Low Density Urban to Medium Density Urban and Urban Expansion for Pahoa Village and the immediately surrounding Pahoa, Puna Island of Hawai`i. Also enclosed was a favorable recommendation from the Windward Planning Commission Chair Zendo Kern and Leeward Planning Commission Chair Geraldine Giffin. Council Member Blas stated that there is tremendous growth in his district and asked all Council Members for their support, and that Pahoa Regional Town Center Plan Steering Committee Members Robin Stetson and Jon Olson were present in the Pahoa office to answer questions. Council Member Yagong expressed the drastic change to the Pahoa area zoning and asked how the community felt about it. Mr. Olson responded stating that this was an outgrowth of the Puna Community Development Plan, which had lots of community input. He also added that the only area of concern were areas around the school complex and the road leading to Kapaho. Council Member Yagong verified that they were working with Council Member Blas and Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd to amend the bill to address those areas of concerns. Council Member Ford confirmed the locations of concern to be in the vicinity of the Pahoa school complex and roads leading towards Kapoho. Council Member Pilago also expressed his concern about this radical change to the Pahoa area. He stated that changes to the LUPAG map would also affect the General Plan and could open up the area for development. He stated that he is apprehensive about that but would support the bill. Council Member Ikeda stated that this would be a great opportunity for the people of Puna and that the Steering Committee can assist in coordinating the vision. PC Rept. No.: 48