MIN CHARTER 2018-10-12 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -4 October 12, 2018 But then I can understand that because by working with the communities and developing our General Plan, our Community Development Plans, which then inform us on the proper land use policy decisions we need to make day in and day out, we need to bring all of these resources, all of these disciplines, all of these skillsets, into the process to help inform all of us in what is the proper land use decisions that we need to make. It's difficult because sometimes you're dealing—you know, Planning Department deals with everything from guiding where roadways are built, where schools can be built, where subdivisions occur, where our large commercial -resort development, all the way down to someone complaining that a chicken is crowing all night long. So it shows you the range of land use issue that we have to deal with. But at the same time, it also shows you how ----I'm looking for the proper word—how deeply engrained land use decisions affect our daily lives. So anyway, that in a nutshell sort of what we do at Planning. We don't have any specific or substantive changes to the County Charter. If anything, we are looking at possible refinements, housekeeping measures. There are some transitional language in the Charter for the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions. The transition occurred back in 2009, so no point in having it remain there. We are looking at some other additional changes; but again, nothing really of substance. If anything, it's more for operational efficiencies. But we do with to have the opportunity to consult with our other partner agencies to make sure that our suggestion doesn't adversely affect another department. So anyway, I stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you so much. Do we have any questions? Actually, you handled already the questions that I was going to ask. I would ask one thing that wasn't on my initial list. There's many things that are third rail question, I guess. You're aware that folks have let me make the comment this way, I was in the Army. I'm used to complaining soldiers, right? It goes with the territory. So you're aware that folks that come in and they're looking for permits will complain about how long things take. Is there anything that we can do structurally that can help with that problem or a like problem? MR. ARAI: I'm trying to recall how I may—I'm not sure you're speaking to building permits or just land use permits in general. I totally get it that the process can be extremely lengthy. But maybe the best way I can respond is, there are times when we can't un -ring the bell. Once you make a decision and it gets put on the ground, it's difficult to scrape it off, right? Which is why the due process, it can be cumbersome, but if it's good for the community, then it's worth the invested time. I know that's probably not going to sit well with a lot of people, but it is a due process. We do try to encourage people to work with communities that they hope to develop with them to find alignment before they approach the County. A lot of times when someone --a community is not aware Page 21