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Communication No. 2025-01 <br /> To: Leeward Planning Commission of the County of Hawai'i, Barbara DeFranco, Chair <br /> From: Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee, Charles Young, Chair <br /> RE: Special General Plan Meeting 1/16/2025 <br /> Aloha Chair DeFranco, Vice-Chair Paishon-Duarte and other Commissioners, <br /> On the December 17, 2024, meeting of the Kona Community Development Plan Action <br /> Committee, the following Motion was unanimously approved: <br /> "The Kona CDP Action Committee would like to share our concern that the remapping <br /> of the 1200-acre Hokuli'a property from Agricultural to Rural proposed in the 2045 General <br /> Plan (Map 8) would facilitate the upzoning of land for a residential resort with a potential <br /> buildout of over 1,000 homes along the coast north of Kealakekua Bay outside of the Kona <br /> Urban Growth Area. <br /> We feel this proposal conflicts with the Kona Community Development Plan as well as <br /> the 2045 General Plan, both of which discourage urban sprawl outside of the Kona Urban <br /> Growth Area or existing rural towns and villages. The 2045 General Plan wisely states that: <br /> The value of establishing Urban Growth Areas lies in the ability to manage growth <br /> effectively, preserve natural and cultural resources, plan infrastructure efficiently, <br /> stimulate economic development, and foster strong, cohesive communities. Urban <br /> Growth Areas present a strategic approach to urban planning that balances the needs <br /> of a growing population with the preservation of Hawaii Island's unique character and <br /> heritage. <br /> However, the County's recommendation to convert the Hokuli'a property from <br /> Agricultural to Rural seems to contradict the above recognition of the importance of that <br /> "strategic approach". <br /> Therefore, Kona CDP Action Committee recommends removing the 2045 General <br /> Plan's proposed remapping of the Hokuli'a property from Agricultural to Rural. <br /> This would not prevent the developer from filing a petition with the State Land Use <br /> Commission to request a Boundary Amendment as provided in Chapter 205, HRS." <br /> Respectively yours, <br /> cn,�­r,xn—,. <br /> Charles Young, Chair. Kona CDP Action Committee <br />