2025-01-16 Chuck Flaherty, Moku Loa Group, Sierra Group

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SIERRACLUB HAWAII ISLAND GROUP January 16, 2025 Leeward Planning Commission 101 Pauahi St, Ste 103 Hilo HI 96720 Re: Final draft General Plan 2045 Aloha Mr. Chair and members of the Leeward Planning Commission, The Sierra Club of Hawai'i, Hawai'i Island Group would like to request the Commission consider the following recommended amendments to the draft General Plan 2045 (GP2045). Standards HIG would like to correct a statement made by the Planning Department during the Commission's December 19, 2025 meeting in response to public testimony that GP2045 lacked sufficient standards. A statement was made that GP2045 contains 115 Standards. That is not correct. Section 3-15 of the county Charter states, in part, "The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county..." The current General Plan (cGP) complies with the Charter by stating specific Standards for each of the 13 Elements of the cGP. However, GP2045 does not. A key word search for"standard" in the online version of GP2045 reveals the only Standards are listed in 5 Tables, "Public Access Spacing Standards" (p.112), "Mass Transit Level of Service Standards" (p. 114), "Water System Domestic Consumption Standards" (p.120), "Protective Services Level of Service Standards" (p. 134), and"Park Standards" (p. 160). The only other Standards in GP2045 "Roadway Standards" (p. 120, "Street Standards" (p. 120) and the "County Street Design Manual referred to as a Standard on page 118. All other results for the key word search for"standard" are contained in sentences as follows: "develop standards", "meet standards", "create standards", "establish standards", "set standards", "maintain standards", "adopt standards". "identify standards", and"prepare P 0 Box 1137 Hilo, HI 96721-1137 1 hawaiiislandsierraclubPgmail.com sierraclubhig.org