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Section 3: Strengthening the Network <br />3.1 Land Use & Settlement Patterns <br />Community Action 1: Develop Town Revitalization Plans focused on developing guidelines for <br />preserving historic and cultural character, infrastructure improvements, developing affordable <br />housing, and promoting economic revitalization. <br />Need: There are nine small towns in the Hamakua Planning Area that would benefit from urban renewal and <br />revitalization efforts. The region has not fully recovered from the demise of the plantation economy and <br />many of the region's small towns have dilapidated commercial centers with high vacancy rates and shrinking <br />populations consisting of predominately aging populaces. The growth trend has been in the outlying <br />agricultural lands, and so far not within the towns themselves. The CDP was unable to provide adequate <br />town -level plans for each town, however the Planning Department is interesting in partnering with <br />motivated community/business associations to help provide the necessary technical assistance in taking <br />steps toward revitalization, including developing plans, taking advantage of grant opportunities, and <br />developing infrastructure improvement districts. <br />Potential Community Leader: Business owners, residents, stakeholders, Honoka'a Business Association <br />Potential Community Partners: County Planning Department, County Dept. of Research and Development <br />Potential Next Steps: Interested communities should form an organized group or association in order to <br />initiate County assistance with town revitalization plans. This entity can then qualify for funding <br />opportunities in developing or implementing these town revitalization plans, with the technical assistance of <br />the Planning Dept. Note: the Planning Department is currently working on developing a Town Planning <br />Toolkit for the purpose of assisting interested groups in this endeavor. <br />For more information on this, see pages 103-113 of Appendix V4C. <br />Note the following General Plan Priority: <br />• Focus on urban renewal of Honoka'a. (GP 14.3.5.4.2 (a) <br />v <br />Community Action Guide: 2017 10 <br />