Comm No 0015.01 - Testimony - Art I - XVI - General Discussion - Proposed Amendments

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4. Amend Chapter 7 Sections 6-7.2 "Planning Director", 6-7.6 "Transitional Provisions", Section 6-7.2 "Leeward Planning Commission and Section 6-7.3 "Windward Planning Commission" Amend Chapter 7 Section 6-7.2 "Planning Director", as follows: (a) The planning director shall be appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the council and may be removed by the mayor. The planning director shall have had a minimum of five years of training and experience in a responsible planning position, or a degree in planning, engineering, architecture, geography, or another planning -related field and three years of experience in a responsible planning position. No less than three years of experience shall have been in an administrative capacity. (b) The director shall be the chief planning officer of the county and the administrative head of the department and shall: (1) Advise the mayor, the windward planning commission, the leeward planning commission and the council on all planning and land use matters. (2) Prepare a general plan, implementation plans and any amendments thereto in accordance with Section 3- 15, in collaboration with the community development planning committees. (3) Prepare proposed zoning and subdivision ordinances, zoning maps and regulations and any amendments thereto. (4) Review the lists of proposed capital improvements contemplated by departments and agencies of the county and by the community development planning committees, and based upon those recommendations, recommend the order of their priority. (5) Administer the subdivision and zoning ordinances and regulations adopted thereunder. (6) Render decisions on proposed subdivision plans pursuant to law. (7) Make recommendations on rezoning applications, special exceptions and other similar requests. (8) Render decisions on proposed variances pursuant to law, except that, if any written objections are made to the planning director's actions under this section, said actions shall be subject to review by the board of appeals in accordance with Section 6-9.2, unless otherwise provided by law or this charter. (9) Perform such other related duties and functions as may be necessary or required pursuant to law and this charter. Note: Memorialize the key roles of the Community Development Planning Committees in the Charter.... Otherwise their institution is but a sham. Amend Section 6-7.6. "Transitional Provisions" as follows: (a) The existing planning commission shall remain in effect and continue to hear and decide matters pursuant to Section 6 7.3, Hawai'i County Charter (2000), until April 1, 2009, the date upon which the windward planning commission and the lccward planning commission becomes effective. Matters pending before the existing planning commission that are not finally decided by April 1, 2009, will be transferred to the windward or lccward planning commissions, as appropriate to be finalized. (b) Members of the existing planning commission whose terms will not have expired on April 1, 2009, shall hold over and continue to serve the remainder of their respective terms on the windward and the lccward planning commissions, duly assigned according to their respective residence address. 4e If there shall exist vacancies on either the windward planning commission or the leeward planning commission not filled by term hold over, the mayor shall appoint the remaining members of the windward planning commission and the leeward planning commission in accordance with Section 13-4, Hawai'i County Charter (2000). Note: Remove outdated transitional provisions. 7