2008-05-08 TPUNAcdp - Laserfiche WebLink

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OLSON: I don’t disagree with you. Puna is larger than any of the islands in the island chain. I mean, you know, and our diversity is reflective of that large size. We have the most diverse population and, culturally, ethnically, economically, I -. If the process would have allowed it, we would have done it that way, cause we discussed it. But the resources that it would take to do that the County doesn’t have; and as I understand it it would require changes to State Law because this is, these are mandated by district. So we’re stuck with what we have. IWASHITA: Well, the implementing law for having community development plans is in, what is it, Chapter 10 of the General Plan which says there shall be community development plans developed; and it doesn’t specify those areas. How those areas get determined as far as I’m concerned is up to the Mayor in the end, and the Council if the Mayor doesn’t do it, to, you know, how that’s implemented. And cost is a factor, right? OLSON: You get the money we’ll do it. You’ll get no arguments from the community on that. You get the money we’ll do it. IWASHITA: Well, my intention in bringing this up at this time is to get, you know, your comments; and I appreciate your frankness about, you know, agreeing with me. Thanks. BROWN: If I might add -. WATANABE: Okay, Mr. Woodward. Oh, excuse me I’m sorry. Mr. Brown. BROWN: I just wanted to add on to what Jon said. And that is that we, it’s true that the Puna Community Development Plan doesn’t address who’s going to implement as far as, or how the community will participate in the implementation. But we do have an ordinance -- I’m not exactly sure where it is, but it’s being introduced by Council Chair Pete Hoffman -- that will create implementation committees that are manned by community members and appointed similar to Steering Committee Members. And they will have a lot to say about what gets implemented, how it gets implemented and coordinating with the various County Agencies, primarily through the Planning Department. And we do expect that to pass; and that will be the vehicle through which the community can participate in implementation. And to address another concern that you mentioned, you’ll notice that in the Puna Community Development Plan, there are a lot of actions that are recommended that require follow-up actions that will be done at the more localized level. In other words when it comes time to decide the location and size and scope, etc., of a village center in a particular subdivision, it’s the residents of that subdivision or that immediate surrounding area that will engage in another process where they’ll have input and a voice on how that comes about. The PMAR project, for example, will be greatly engaged with the residents of Hawaiian Paradise Park to help define the size and scope of any road that may or may not eventually connect up to the subdivision or go through it, whatever the case might be. 8