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<br />35 Ken reviewed some history of the CDP, the Design Center, and the importance of the Action <br />36 Committee. Ken’s term as chair expires at the end of June 2013 and has been involved for over <br />37 7 years with the CDP which started in 2005. Ken discussed the importance of planning for <br />38 connectivity for the community which includes pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic. New <br />39 street designs as outlined in the Village Design Guidelines will ultimately help to create the new <br />40 village centers with pedestrian friendly streets. Also included in this new concept is the mixed <br />41 use concept allowing both commercial and residential in the same site which offers pedestrian <br />42 connections for residents within the commercial centers. New parks and open areas are now <br />43 being planned within Kailua-Kona with considerations for at new transit system. <br />44 <br />45 Terry mentioned that the County will be offering some training for the new members and will be <br />46 scheduling these sessions in the near future. <br />47 <br />48 Matt Binder offered comments on Smart Growth and that it is adopted nationally and should not <br />49 be modified by reinterpretation by the Planning Department. Discussion continued on this <br />50 subject. <br />51 <br />52 New members discussed how commercial development by “big box users” has increased while <br />53 the small “mom & pop” shops have decreased all without significant population growth. Greg <br />54 Ogin noted that we do not have the density to support all the small commercial centers. <br />55 <br />56 Ken also discussed tax increment financing and its benefits to the County as it is critical to <br />57 implementing the CDP. Taxes generated in Kailua-Kona would remain in Kailua-Kona. The <br />58 number is 870 million dollars to implement the improvements in the CDP and the Action <br />59 Committee needs to continue pressing for this money to fund these improvements. <br />60 <br />61 Matt noted that impact fees are not in place and the Action Committee wrote a letter to the <br />62 County Council that impact fees are critical in the implementation of these required <br />63 improvements. <br />64 <br />65 Discussion on how National Park is opposed to almost every project in their area. Kona Action <br />66 Committee needs to help the County to work with National Parks and groundwater issues. <br /> 2 <br /> <br />