PL-SLU-2022-008-PL-REZ-2022-039 06.14.23 E. Flores Opposition Testimony within 48 hrs

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Chapter 4: Waimea Town Plan Waimea Policy 5. TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEEDED CIRCULATION AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS. The County Government shall coordinate and work with the community and with state and federal agencies toward the timely construction of priority circulation and transportation improvements, including pedestrian, bicycling, and public transportation, improvements in order to alleviate severe traffic congestion that is impacting Waimea Town. Important related land use strategies for Waimea Town are summarized below. POLICY NO. 1 PRESERVATION OF WAIMEA'S SENSE OF PLACE Strategy 1.1 Protect the Pu'u of Waimea — The green pu'u above Waimea Town have great cultural, historical, and visual importance for the community. Together with the grand views of Mauna Kea to the southeast of the town, the pu'u define the special landscape "sense of place" of Waimea. Efforts to protect the pu'u should be centered on keeping the pu'u and surrounding areas in agricultural use (grazing) and conservation use. Many of the pu'u have deep cultural importance for Native Hawaiians, and they are important areas for Native Hawaiians to pursue traditional cultural practices. Allowing access to the pu'u is important for these traditional cultural practices. The pu'u also play an important role in the natural systems of the watershed. A State-owned parcel that contains three of the most important pu'u of Waimea was recently "downzoned" by the County Council from Ag-1 a and Ag-5a to "Ag-400"—a zoning designation that will prevent the land from being divided up into small agricultural lots. An overall protection plan is now needed for the other important pu'u: not only the steeply sloping cinder cone features, but also their associated slopes within the "Pu'u Protection Zone" as illustrated in the accompanying "Concept Plan for Waimea." The tree line referenced in the 1986 Waimea Design Plan should serve as the lower boundary line for the "Pu'u Protection Zone." The Waimea Design Plan states: "Preserve the Kohala Mountains and pu'u's above the present tree line." The Pu'u Protection Plan for Waimea could include one or more of the following tools: • Prohibit any new structures above the tree line referenced in the 1986 Waimea Design Plan • Voluntary downzonings • Purchase of conservation easements by the County or by a Land Trust • Development of educational materials on the history and cultural importance of the pu'u • Partnership agreements with DLNR and DHHL • Partnership agreements with private land owners If restrictions on the use of these lands are found to significantly diminish the value of a particular parcel, consideration should be given to providing fair compensation to the land owner. The Pu'u Protection Plan for Waimea presented in the "Action Program" section consists of the acquisition of conservation easements and the requirement of a use permit for grading and construction on steep slopes. It has also been suggested that the Waimea Community and the County request the State Legislature to pass a Concurrent Resolution stating that the pu'u lands of Waimea shall be preserved as undeveloped pasture and forests. Public access to pu'u located on State land should be provided. Private land owners may also be able to provide public access easements. A regional scale pu'u protection program could preserve all of the important pu'u in the District of South Kohala — and perhaps in neighboring districts as well. See the Pu'u Protection Action Program for details. South Kohala CDP November, 2008 FINAL Page 68