2019-06-20 KCDP Minutes.v02 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

-ie- Business: 1. Leeward Planning Commission Public Meeting Regarding the Kona CDP Amendments. A complete transcript of this hearing [Communication Number 2019-22] is available to view and download at the following website: http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/100971/Pagel.aspx This meeting was a concurrent Leeward Planning Commission meeting and a Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee meeting to abide by the Sunshine Law (HRS Chapter 92) and enable the CDP Action Committee members to attend and provide comments to the commissioners. The purpose was to determine passage of the Kona Community Development Plan Amendments to go before County Council's Planning Committee. Members of the Kona CDP Action Committee attended this meeting and were able to testify and answer questions from the Leeward Planning Commission. Planner Plunkett gave a brief presentation that gave some background of the process to amend the CDP so far and the reason for its initiation. He explained that after the Action Committee had submitted their recommended changes, the Planning Department had discovered additional items that required amending such as the plan's narrative and actions. Planning Department staff had cross- referenced the language of the plan with the Hawai'i County Code and Hawai'i Revised Statutes, and had additionally sought consultation from other County departments and agencies. Planner Plunkett additionally explained that they had received additional suggestions from the Department of Public Works and the Department of Water Supply that were included in the amendment package [Communication Number 2019-19]. These agency comments may be viewed or downloaded at the following website: http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/100705/Pagel.aspx Commissioners engaged in discussion and asked clarifying questions about the amendments with Planning staff and Corporation Counsel. Commissioners shared some reservations about several policies and questioned the reasoning behind the amendments. Commissioner Vitousek asked how this interim review would fit into the plans for a future comprehensive review of the CDP. Planning Staff responded that General Plan lays out the comprehensive review process, that the comprehensive review of the CDP might take some time and that it is important to fix the legal ambiguity and contradictions that exist in the plan in the meantime. Commissioner Vitousek brought up his concerns for replacing or strengthening the mandatory language in several policies. For TRAN-3.4 Retrofit Existing Streets and TRAN-3.5 Safe Routes to School, Mr. Vitousek felt that taking away the mandatory language would diminish the County's impetus to fund and complete such projects. For the TRAN-3.5 he argued that not having safe routes to school is also a major safety concern for keiki. Commissioner Vitousek also shared his concern for policy LU -3.8 Rezoning Outside of Urban and Rural TODs, where he felt the mandatory language could be loosened to avoid blocking a development which may be beneficial for the community but that would be located outside of a Rural TOD area. He further suggested strengthening the language for policy ENV -1.1 Central Environmental Resources and loosening the mandatory language for policy CR -2.2 Regulatory System. Commissioner Perry shared a concern that the amendments to PUB -4.3 Agricultural Water changed the intention of the CDP to uphold agriculture as an important aspect of the rural character of Kona. Planning Staff responded that the mandatory language of many of the policies were found to commit the County to spending money which may not be available. They shared that having mandatory www.hiplannin,-dept.com konana,hawaiicounty.gov Page 3