2024-11-21 Moku Loa Hawaii Island Sierra Club Testimony (2)

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Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Program Success It is Planning Consultants Hawaii's professional opinion that SMA policies have had just limited success in protecting scenic resources within Maui County's coastal zone. There are several reasons for the modest performance, including: 1 . Existing Community Plan and Zoning Designations. The bulk of Maui's developed shoreline and coastal lands were community planned and zoned in the early 1970's with little consideration for how such significant development could impact scenic resources. The County's early community plans neither documented the scenic resources warranting special protections nor provided sufficient guidance to help mitigate development impacts. As such, during a period of prolonged and rapid urbanization of the County's coastal lands, SMA permitting was the principal safeguard to address scenic resource impacts, but it was just modestly successful at protecting these resources. 2. Lack of Scenic Resources Protection Process, Procedures and Standards. Although developments within the SMA are reviewed for consistency with SMA scenic resource objectives and policies, there are no criteria for determining when an impact has occurred, if the impact is acceptable or not acceptable, and what measures should be taken to mitigate scenic resource impacts. The current SMA process relies upon the discretion of the County's staff planner, who most likely has not received formal training nor been provided with sufficient guidance for how best to mitigate scenic resource impacts within the SMA. 96 Now- r- Considerable urban development exists within Hilo and Kona's SMA boundaries. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 8