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really have to get this Commission in order and get up to grade, and this is so urgent, I didn't
<br />have time to come to you."
<br />Well, I would like that same sense of urgency. These committees, like the South Kohala
<br />Action Committee, should be looking at some of these plans. To tell you the truth, I think that
<br />some of the big proposals that are coming before the Planning Department and the Planning
<br />Commission are coming in now like, "We really don't want to talk to the community, if we can
<br />get this done before this is in place ". I really feel that to the extent we can change the concept
<br />and that we are all part of the community, and have them realize that this is in their enlightened
<br />self interest. That's what this has to do with, and it's trying to think of people here as an asset.
<br />On our committee, the Waimea Design and Review Committee, we are dealing with a plan
<br />right now. We don't make any decisions; we just provide our comments and questions to the
<br />Planning Department to decide, we are just giving our best information.
<br />The next one (E) is amending Article VI, the Executive Branch, Section 6.7 -6, which is the
<br />Planning Director. This requires that the Planning Director render decisions relating to
<br />development approvals only after consulting with, and considering community input.
<br />Currently, for example, with subdivisions or planned unit developments, which have massive
<br />impact, it's totally discretionary; decisions are made by the Planning Director. This isn't
<br />saying that the Community Development Plan has some kind of decision - making capacity; it
<br />only says allow or provide for public input. In our South Kohala Community Development
<br />Plan, we specifically put in a provision that the Planning Director provide for opportunities. If
<br />you look at the current Charter, it gets very specific about the capacity of the Planning Director
<br />and what his role is. This has come up over the years, with the Council saying, maybe all of
<br />these developments should come to us. It just makes it so political that there is one person who
<br />has total discretion about a subdivision. In terms of the literature on land use planning, it is at
<br />the level of subdivision when there is a determination as to how to develop the land, that's
<br />when you need the input; it's not rezoning. Rezoning is simply, taking this category from say
<br />agriculture over to commercial, and thinking about using it in some way. But, once you've
<br />moved it, as long as they stay within that other category, they're okay. It's a paper work
<br />change, not committing to a development. It's really when they commit to an action of what
<br />they're going to do, that getting the input from the community is important. It's not just that
<br />we're planning to make this into student housing, but two months later it's not viable and we're
<br />dong something else. Again, none of these things say the community has any decision - making
<br />power, it just says provide opportunities, such as through the Community Development Plans.
<br />Then (F) amends Article VI of the Executive Branch, Section 6 -10.2, Department of
<br />Environmental Management. What I was getting at here is some of what is being addressed in
<br />Communication 27, in terms of what is in the statement of the kuleana, the area of
<br />responsibility for the Department of Environmental Management. Right now, it just says to
<br />protect the environment based on management of waste. There is no entity in this County that
<br />is looking at anything beyond that. Repeatedly, the Council has asked the Department of
<br />Environmental Management, what do you think about X? And they have said, does is have to
<br />do with waste? And if the answer is no, then they don't do it. Research and Development has
<br />said they are moving towards more of an economic development focus. Maybe they have a
<br />green team, but those issues do not come before the council. They are critical issues, and I
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