Laserfiche WebLink
The need for the proposed revision is clearly evidenced by the <br /> following case which is not exceptional, nor is this the most <br /> flagrant example of a developer abusing the general plan <br /> comprehensive review process : <br /> In 1985 two large mainland corporations--known as Kohala Joint <br /> Venture--were developing Kohala Ranch (a 4000 acre site in North <br /> Kohala) as an agricultural subdivision. At that time, the <br /> developer petitioned the county to reclassify the two square <br /> miles in the center of the subdivision from agricultural to <br /> urban to allow the construction of the second largest city in <br /> the County of Hawaii at that site. <br /> Presumably to avoid filing an environmental impact statement, <br /> and certainly to keep actual and prospective purchasers from <br /> hearing of this radical change in plans, the developer presented <br /> the proposal as part of the comprehensive review process for the <br /> General Plan. (Attached is the only public notice of this <br /> proposal . ) <br /> Since the plan received little or no publicity, Kohala Ranch <br /> property owners had no opportunity to submit testimony to either <br /> the Planning Commission or the Planning Committee of the County <br /> Council . <br /> However, neighboring property owners did hear about it and did <br /> testify against it. At least in part on the basis of that <br /> testimony the Planning Commission recommended dropping the <br /> proposal, but the then Planning Director reinstated it . <br /> The current status of the proposal is that it has once more gone <br /> through the Planning Commission and has been referred to the <br /> County Council with a recommendation that it be approved. <br /> In summary: <br /> The Kohala Ranch urban proposal is an example of the use of the <br /> General Plan comprehensive review process to prevent the public <br /> in general, and concerned parties in particular , from learning <br /> about developments that can have far reaching implications for <br /> the Big Island. It is also a method whereby a developer can <br /> avoid filing an environmental impact statement even though the <br /> proposed development may have a significant and long lasting <br /> detrimental effect on the environment . <br /> The proposal that I have submitted today will further the intent <br /> of the general plan to provide for long-range comphrehensive <br /> physical development of the county and will help to keep the <br /> general plan from becoming a vehicle for serving private <br /> interests. <br /> 538 <br />