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SidneyFuke, Planning Consultant <br /> mile <br /> r.r100 Pauahi Street,Suite 212•Hilo,Hawaii 96720 •Planning•Variance•Zoning <br /> Telephone:(808)969-1522 Cell:(808)989-0640 •Subdivision•Land Use Permits <br /> E-mail:sidfuke@hawaiiantel.net •Environmental Reports <br /> October 2, 2019 <br /> Mr. Michael Yee, Director <br /> Planning Department <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII <br /> 101 Pauahi Street <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> ATTN: Ms. Bethany Morrison <br /> Dear Mr. Yee: <br /> Subject: General Plan Update Program - Kona Country Club, line. <br /> Keauhou,North Kona,Hawai i,TMK:7-8-010: 051,077,and 082 <br /> Thank you very much for taking time to discuss the on-going General Plan update <br /> program with me and others yesterday. It was very informative. <br /> As discussed,your tentative timetable is to solicit public comments on the first draft by <br /> the end of this month and then come forth with a revised one in the first quarter of next year. <br /> The revised document would again be subject to public review/comment before forwarding it to <br /> the Planning Commissions for review and comment and ultimately to the County Council by the <br /> late second and third quarters of 2020 for possible decision before the end of 2020. <br /> In that regard, I note that in the current draft,the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide <br /> (LUPAG)map for the Keauhou area affecting the now defunct golf course mauka of Ali'i Drive <br /> and owned by Kona Country Club, Inc.has changed from"Open"to a new category called <br /> "Recreation". Please note that in the attached letter,dated September 24, 2015,we outlined <br /> several reasons for having the designation changed to either"Urban Expansion"or"Low <br /> Density". <br /> In addition to the reasons outlined in that letter,we would also briefly like to add that <br /> because of declining interest in golf many golf courses have no longer become economically <br /> sustainable and hence are being abandoned and transitioned to other uses. The situation here is <br /> no different here, and thus its retention as a golf course recreation area on the LUPAG map <br /> would not be realistic. Further,a"Low Density Urban" designation in the area of the former <br /> golf course would allow residential use, a use that is consistent with the adjoining residential <br /> developments. Relatedly, inasmuch as other land use entitlements such as a zone change and <br />