2010-01-08 TCOUNTY - Laserfiche WebLink

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or, by the process, and now I’m paraphrasing, where the arborist advisory committee in each individual county receives requests from the public. And so they do a study on the tree, they make a recommendation to the County Council, and then those trees can be specifically designated on a list by the County Codes. But just because a tree is not listed does not mean they do not get exceptional status under the law. In fact, any person, this is how serious they were about this rule, and if you think about it there would be no exceptional trees if you allowed developers to cut down trees that weren’t inherently of cultural and historical value. All the kamani trees could have been cut down at Pohoiki, and then this is why we need that process, that there are two ways. The law recognizes something achieves its status by its inherent nature and it can be specifically recognized. That’s another avenue to do it. And the reason why, you know, I said something, I knew that was a little out of line and I apologize for it, is because if you think of the process of a tree being submitted, these trees were submitted to the County Council 80 years ago. This whole plan was submitted and approved. So there were County Commissioners back then and there were Park Commissioners that submitted it. It’s essentially equivalent to a modern specific designation. And I’d make one last point. There’s a book on these trees. There are signs on these trees. We have treated no other trees in this County or in this State with more recognition. And they are in the General Plan, excuse me, they are in the Hilo CDP. They’re the first item, Natural Resource, mentioned for preservation. Keaukaha Shoreline Plan of 1978 adopted that Hilo CDP recommendation in 1975. So obviously there’s a long history of County looking at those trees as a good thing. It’s something worthy as a natural resource worthy of preservation. So thank you very much, sir. WOODWARD: All right. Thank you. DOMINGO: Mr. Rees. WOODWARD: Commissioner Domingo. DOMINGO: This would involve the participation of the Arborist Commission. I think we do have an Arborist Commission in the County. Don’t we? REES: We do but unfortunately it’s not seated. They don’t have a quorum, they don’t have enough people. Mr. Bisel was a member of the Arborist Advisory Committee and they were functioning at that time. I don’t know how long they’ve been down but they just don’t have the people there. So that’s not an avenue that’s open. And I’m trying to tell you folks that this is not a threat in any way. I’m just saying that me as a person I do believe, and so do the environmental assessment. It said it wasn’t going to do anything to the signed trees along Banyan Drive. If you approve this as is, you’re going beyond the environmental assessment. So it’s a very serious thing. It was pointed out, you know, in that assessment that these even will not be touched. It said that there might be root pruned or pruned; and nobody is against that at all. And I don’t have no special love for banyans. To me it’s more what they represent. Maybe they picked the wrong tree. I wish -. But what happens if the next Mayor comes along? Actually 31 EXHIBIT C