GP2005AmendthruOrd14-087_Entire Doc (Current)

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§1.2: History Of The Plan With the adoption and ratification of the County Charter in 1968, the General Plan emerged as a major policy document. Section 3-15 of the County Charter states: "The county council shall adopt by ordinance a general plan which shall set forth the Council's policy for long-range comprehensive physical development of the County. It shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the County for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other purposes which shall be consistent with proper conservation of natural resources and the preservation of our natural beauty and historical sites; the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the County; a system of principal thoroughfares, highways, streets, public access to the shoreline, and other open spaces; the general locations, relocations and improvement of public buildings; the general location and extent of public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned, for water, sewers, light, power, transit and other purposes; the extent and location of public housing projects; adequate drainage facilities and control; air pollution; and such other matters as may, in the Council's judgment, be beneficial to the social, economic, and governmental conditions and trends and shall be designed to assure the coordinated development of the County and to promote the general welfare and prosperity of its people. (a)The Council shall enact zoning, subdivision, and other such ordinances, which shall contain the necessary provisions to carry out the purpose of the General Plan. (b)No public improvement, project, subdivision, or zoning ordinances, shall be initiated or adopted unless the same conforms to and implements the General Plan. (c)Amendments to the General Plan may be initiated by the Council or the Planning Director.” The first General Plan document to be completed after the ratification of the County Charter in 1968 was adopted by ordinance on December 15, 1971 by the County Council. Upon adoption of the General Plan in 1971, the Council laid the foundation for establishing a comprehensive planning program for the County of Hawaii. This program consists of three interrelated parts arranged in a hierarchy as described below and illustrated in Figure I. The General Plan represents the first level and encompasses long-range goals, poli- cies, standards, and courses of action for the entire County. The General Plan also provides the legal basis for all of the other elements of the County's planning structure. As such, the General Plan is the highest order, or "umbrella" plan. It establishes the outer limits or boundaries within which the County must operate. ••• Hawaii County General Plan ••• 1-2