Communication No. 2018-12- Ken Melrose Testimony

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Communication No. 2018-12 further improvements to the policies in the way of guidance to agencies and the removal of unintended disincentives toward the desired outcomes are needed to improve effective governance, as well. The overall strategy of Transportation (4.1.2) and Land Use (4.2.2) of the Kona CDP is to direct growth within the Urban area of the General Plan and to foster compact neighborhoods that reduce sprawl and improve transportation choices. Since its adoption in 2008 several positive outcomes have occurred, like the transportation linkages: in the creation of Ane Keohokalole Highway from Palani to Hina Lani (much needed to further extend to Kaiminani and link in the new University back to Queen Kaahumanu Highway past the airport); extension of Laaloa to create a new mauka makai connection; and, the widening of Queen Kaahumanu Highway out to the airport (seems it's been under construction the whole time!). However, no such new growth pattern has emerged, and few new housing projects have begun. Granted some of this delay is due to economic forces, but much has to do with policy implementation. The biggest internal impediments are in details of Connectivity and Concurrency, the workings of the Design Center and the interpretation of the Village Design Guidelines. The further amendments included in the sub- committee report to Policies in Transportation, Land Use and Housing sections would in my opinion be appropriate to include in this amendment process. I will address those directly in a moment but wish to point out an historical circumstance- the Planning Department has asked for your opinion and support. Two recommendations may emerge. One that narrowly addresses the proposed shall to should changes. Another that directs policy interpretation to improve the working of the plan implementation. The AC has taken that course before and I encourage you to take it again now. I am hopeful the AC will include the sub -committee recommendations for the further amendments to Connectivity Tran 2.1 and Concurrency Tran 6.1 with Table 4-1 in its base motion. To further improve progress toward the desired outcomes, I suggest including the following additions as recommendations to the Director: Tran -2.1: Connectivity Standards. In #5, last sentence after shall insert "to the edge of each phase", as almost all projects of significant scope get done in pieces. 2