2024-11-20 Kupuna for the Mo'opuna

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The Honorable Michael Yee August 30, 2017 Page 5 the 2016 Panaewa Regional Plan Update recommends an alternative route to connect the mid- level to the more appropriate state highway. This figure is enclosed with this letter for your reference. DHHL would like the County to delete any reference regarding utilization of Rail Road Avenue as a mid-level connector road from its General Plan. Pana`ewa farm lot lessees who reside at the Puna end of Railroad Avenue have experienced issues such as illegal racing, drug activity, and vandalism of private property. Several solutions that are identified in the regional plan and that would require County collaboration to resolve these issues include stepped-up police patrols of the area, installation of an access gate to limit non-residents from entering the area, and/or, installation of speed-control devices such as speed-humps along Railroad Avenue. Additionally industrial type land uses should not be located in close proximity to existing Pana`ewa homestead lots as they would cause detrimental affects to homestead lessees and their families. The General Plan LUPAG should be amended to prevent this type of land use from occurring near Pana`ewa homestead areas. Waimea Nui regional Plan In this region, the DHHL Hawaii Island Plan anticipates the future development of approximately 400 residential homesteads on 214 acres in its Lalamilo residential homestead subdivision and an additional 550 residential homesteads, 160 subsistence agriculture homesteads, and 50 pastoral homesteads in the Honokaia tract. This should be reflected in the County General Plan LUPAG. Regional Plan priority projects that will require collaboration with the County to implement include the 161-acre Waimea Nui Regional Community Development Initiative and the priority project that calls for a re-examination of County building codes to look at options on how the code could be modified to allow for more affordable home development. Additional County Outreach with DHHL Beneficiaries DHHL comments on the County General Plan Update included in this correspondence may not be completely reflective of all beneficiary comments and concerns that should be incorporated into the County's General Plan update. As such, DHHL strongly encourages the Planning Department to consult directly with Hawaii Island DHHL beneficiaries during the County's General Plan update. Direct County consultation with DHHL homestead communities and waitlist beneficiaries will provide these sometimes underrepresented populations an opportunity to provide feedback to the County General Plan and ultimately allow DHHL beneficiaries an opportunity to help guide the goals and policies of the County over the next decade and beyond. DHHL recommends that the County hold a minimum of at least two special outreach meetings (one in West Hawaii and one in East Hawaii) for DHHL beneficiaries.