Communication No. 2018-07- 2017 Annunal NKCDP Report from Chair Winter Final

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study to answer these questions and see what it would take to have a robust and affordable ag water distribution system. At our third meeting, John Richards of Waimea Water Services, who was contracted for the study, presented his initial findings and sought public comments. The group's participation in the issue is ongoing. Roads. The Group has concentrated on two principal road issues in 2016-7. The first is finding a way to have Pratt Road readily available as an emergency bypass should the Akoni Pule Highway again become blocked. We sent out questionnaires to the landowners fronting Pratt and held meetings to hear their wishes and concerns, most of which centered on issues of limited access (only during emergencies), liability, and maintenance that would retain most of Pratt's present rural aspect. We are working with the landowners and the Department of Public Works to solve these problems. Creating an agreement by which the County assumes liability and maintenance responsibilities that is agreeable and signed by over forty landowners is a challenge. The second road issue deals with congestion, safety, and cleanliness at the Pololu Lookout. In conjunction with three other groups of the NKCDP we hosted four meetings seeking recommendations regarding solutions to the increasing congestion, parking problems and other health and safety considerations. Besides community input meetings there have been meetings with DLNR, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Na Ala Hele Trails System, County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, County Police and Sen. Inouye and Rep. Evans. The Group is working on a plan to create a parking lot and restroom facilities. In November Representative Cindy Evans brought Dan Smith, Big Island District Engineer for the State DOT to Kohala to one of our meetings with members of the public. Mr. Smith outlined DOT's plans for maintaining the Akoni Pule Highway. Residents expressed their strong concerns, which centered on the dangerous conditions at A'amakao Gulch, and the yield sign at Walaohia Gulch. Goals for 2018: All of the infrastructure issues addressed above are ongoing. Members of our group are presently arranging to meet with the Acting Director of Public Works to further discuss how to best address the problem of Pratt Road as an emergency by-pass. We are also arranging to meet with several departments to obtain land and construct a parking lot and restroom facilities at Pololu Lookout. We are continuing to work with the Waste Management Division to install a greenwaste bin at the Ka'auhuhu transfer station. Our community wants a system in which Kohala's greenwaste can be diverted from the landfill to the mulch facility and made available to the community. The PWR Group meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:00pm in the former Judiciary Building (between the Senior Center and Police Station) in Kapa'au. Growth Management (GM) Group North Kohala residents recognize that some growth will happen within the district. However, they were quite vocal during the CDP development process about their desire to control the type and quantity of development that happens. They sought management of future growth of the district in a manner consistent with the Kohala lifestyle and ideals of being a rural community with a strong cultural heritage, an agricultural base, and a small- town feel. The over -arching Goal for achieving the desired Growth Management in Kohala is thus summarized as: GOAL: DIRECT NORTH KOHALA'S GROWTH TO AREAS WITHIN AND NEAR EXISTING TOWN CENTERS IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE DISTRICT'S OPEN SPACE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES; AND TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE. An additional Strategy in the NKCDP: Strategy 1.3: Down -zone identified State-owned parcels that have special cultural and/or scenic value. The GM Group reviews various types of North Kohala land use applications submitted to the County Planning Department, and evaluates them for consistency with the Goal stated above. The Growth Management Group then decides upon appropriate action, such as notification of and input from affected neighbors, and we make recommendations to the NKCDP AC and hence to the Planning Department. To follow Strategy 1.3, we work