2007-05-14 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes

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She also asked Mr. Kaneshiro if they discussed the Kona Community Development Plan or any of the development planning processes as being part of the Commission's criteria for deciding what had priority. At that point, Mr. Kaneshiro invited Ms. Piccichio to come and have a discussion with the Commission. Ms. Piccichio stated the Kona Community Development Plan was the first plan that was funded; she also stated that the Puna Plan was funded and is currently underway. Ms. Piccichio stated the two plans in Waikoloa have been funded and they are just getting their committee and consultant on board. Ms. Piccichio stated this process for what amounts to regional planning for the island, is well on its way and her primary reason to come at this point is just so that when these plans move ahead a little further and the communities within each of these planning districts start coming to their own concepts of what they feel their priorities are within their own community, this Commission could take those issues into consideration as part of the big picture. Ms. Piccichio stated it's a fascinating phenomenon with these community plans since we have only County government and this is actually legal mechanism because these community plans will be adopted by Ordinance so they have the first affected law. Once these community plans are adopted, the recommendations that are made within them are not just a wish list, it's something that the community is going to be committed to implementing and it will be very important for them to be working with this Commission and coming to their own priorities and determining how those priorities can be implemented, whether its trails, regional parks, etc. Ms. Piccichio stated it's too early for her to come to this Commission with any recommendations because none of the plans have been completed yet however she wanted to bring the concept to attention. Mr. Flores asked once the plans are developed and gets approved does it have to coincide with the general plan or does it override the general plan. Ms. Piccichio responded that Chapter 15 of the general plan says that the broad goals of the general plan shall be implemented by the adoption of community plans. Ms. Piccichio stated in looking at the general plan, it makes many "feel good statements" such as, "protect farm land ", "protect trails" or "protect cultural sites" but it does not go into how or who is going to do it. Chapter 15, the implementation chapter of the general plan, says the job for determining this specific implementation should be done through CDP' s. Mr. Gilmartin asked if it was likely that any of the plans would be done this year. Ms. Piccichio answered that they are hoping to have a draft out this summer for the Kona plan. Ms. Springer informed Ms. Piccichio that as a part of this Commission's process, when they develop the criteria to evaluate different sites that are recommended to this Commission, they refer back to the Hawaii County General Plan as one of their guideposts. They will look forward to greater scrutiny at Chapter 15. 2