HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0053.008 2020-2022 'n
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From: Kupuna Moopuna
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2021 8:20 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: testimony
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Kupuna for the Moopuna
committed to the well-being of Hawaii"for the next generations to come
kupuna4moopuna@)gmail.com
Hawaii County Council Meeting
September 8, 2021
Communication 53.7 - Comments
Aloha,
We, Kupuna for the Moopuna of Pana`ewa, Hawaii, submit this testimony regarding
Communication 53.7 with respect to Community Development Pians (CDP) in general.
We continue to shine a bright light on the fact that Hilo still does not have a Community
Development Plan in the Hawaii County Code and, without the input of a Hilo CDP to guide the
Hawaii County General Plan 2040 , the Hawaii County General Plan 2040 is not comprehensive as
mandated by the Hawaii County Charter.
The Hawaii County Charter,Article 111, Legislative Branch, County Council, Section 3-14 COUNTY
CODE reads: "There shall be a county code containing allcounty ordinances..."and Section 3-15
GENERAL PLAN reads: "The county council shall adopt by ordinance a general plan which shall set
forth the council's long range policy for the comprehensive physical, economic, environmental, and
socio-cultural wellbeing of the county."
The Hawaii County Code, Chapter 16, includes 6 Hawaii County CDPs - Hamakua, Ka`u, Kona,
North Kohala, South Kohala, Puna. However, Hawaii County is comprised of 7 community
development boundaries (see map); Hilo's CDP is missing from the County Code,
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Ref. To: Q LUM N
Ref. Date SEP - 8 2021
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Because ilo's CDP is missing from the County Code, Hilo's community development boundary
area does not enjoy the same fair opportunity to be included in the Hawaii County General Plan
2040. According to the County of Hawaii Planning website, Community Development Plans"serve
as the forum for community input into establishing County policy at the regional level and
coordinating the delivery of County services to the community. They translate the broad General Plan
statements into actions as they apply to specific geographical areas." This is especially concerning
to the District 3 communities of Keaukaha and Pana`ewa, targets of intense development,whose
voices are being left out of the General Plan 2040.
The General Plan 2040 Draft does not even reference Keaukaha and/or Pana`ewa, homestead
communities targeted for intense development via air, land, and sea. For example, General Plan
2040 Section 4: Community Placemaking, has direct relevance to Keaukaha with respect to sea
level rise. Keaukaha is a community with only one two-lane road in and out of the community, with
sections of that road within feet of the ocean, yet there is no Hilo CDP to reference what should
guide specific regional safety plans and actions. The Hawaii County General Plan 2005 13.2.5.2.1
references this critical concern for Keaukaha still unresolved: "The Keaukaha area is served by a
single main road, Kalanianaole Avenue that is vulnerable to the threat of tsunamis in this low-lying
area.A portion of this road has been recently widened and improved. However, the unimproved
portion remains inadequate to accommodate the existing uses in the area." Although this need was
in the GP 2005 and the inadequacy of the road still exists, it is no longer in the GP 2040 Draft.
We are still waiting to see an updated General Plan 2040 Draft which will include the following
"chapter" as assured, and reassured, by Planning Department April Surprenant in two meetings -
meetings initiated by us - on December 2, 2019, with the Planning Department and again on
February 26, 2020, with the former Administration and the Planning Department: "The Hawaii
County Planning Department will continue to work on the 2040 GP to ensure it includes a chapter
with relevant items from the 2005 GP as it pertains to those matters beneficial to South Hilo,
especially in light of all the work already done. ThePlanning Department will include a "chapter,"
"appendix," "placeholder," "something,"in the Draft GP 204.0 for South Hilo. The Planning
Department is clear that it's necessary, currently, there's a "puka"for Hilo. It would be separate.
When the Hilo CDP rolls out, they'll just pull out that different part without touching the whole
document." A copy of this testimony is being provided to the Hawaii County Planning Department.
It has been almost two years since this "assurance" by the Planning Department, and still no
such "chapter" has been included in the GP 2040 Draft.
The Hawaii County Charter is clear. The Hawaii County General Plan shall be comprehensive,
inclusive of all. Without a Hilo CDP,the Hawaii County General Plan 2040 is not comprehensive.
Mahalo,
-Kupuna for the Mo`opuna
Pana`ewa, Hawaii
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