2014-03-06HEARINGTRANSCRIPT-PD INITIATED CHAPTER 16 GENERAL PLAN

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WHITMORE: Yes, after about six years, you would have to begin initiating the next comprehensive update, yes. ONO: Ok, part of the proposal then you’re suggesting that we do a complete ten year and then we begin to initiate a, certain changes, as suggested changes, which would then move the time table for the first plan, actually to about 15 years because the original plan would stay in place while all of these proposals take place. WHITMORE: Correct. ONO: So it would not be a 10-year program, it would be a 15-year program, roughly in ending. WHITMORE: I think you’re correct in your assessment. It’s however you’re initiated, by initiating a process after ten years, what you’re basically saying is we’ve got ten years of experience of the current General Plan under our belt, and at that point, we’re gonna start a very thorough review of that plan and how well the policies, goals and action items in that have, have been implemented. So with that experience, we can do that process but, yes, it will be roughly be 15 years before any proposed changes to that reach Council. ONO: So your request really would be affecting a, I don’t know, a Constitutional change for a 15-year program? WHITMORE: There’s, nowhere in the State Constitution or County Charter does, is a time line established for the length of, the time between comprehensive reviews. ONO: Thank you. GONZALES: So, Mr. Whitmore, so basically you’re telling us we’re not gonna make it anyway, right? WHITMORE: That’s the bottom line. It’s been impossible to initiate the process so-- GONZALES: All right. Thank you. Do you have anything else? WHITMORE: The only slides I had remaining was to walk the Commission through the steps that this proposed amendment needs to follow from here. GONZALES: You guys want to hear that? Why not? WHITMORE: Really quickly. So we, the Planning Director initiated this amendment on rd December 23 of last year. That kicked off a 45-day public comment period. During that period, we held two workshops, one in Hilo, one in Kona. During that time, during that 45-day period, nobody attended either workshop, and no public comment was received. So then on th February 20, I believe, the Director submitted the proposed amendment to the Planning Commissions, both Windward and Leeward. You have 120 days to submit a recommendation to 5 EXHIBIT D