HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0939.001 2022-2024P / PCRUAO
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From: Cory
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2024 9:04 PM
To: Evans, Cynthia F.W.; Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba, Holeka; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Kanealii-
Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kimball, Heather; Lee Loy, Sue; Villegas, Rebecca;
Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 181 PCPLUD July 23
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comments on Bill 181 re. General Plan
from Cory Harden -
for Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development
9 AM Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Kona chambers a
Thank you to Holeka Inaba for introducing this bill.
As a member of the public, I have limited access to records and to people who understand this complex issue. I unearthed
what I could, but if any of my comments are off -base due to my lack of understanding, please overlook them.
Allowing Council the flexibility of amendments during comprehensive review is probably a good idea in light of the
dizzying rate of changes in society, technology, and knowledge. Private interests are constantly developing new
approaches and rushing to profit from them before government can come up with regulations.
The current General Plan procedure, where Council has to accept the final draft as is, or send everyone back to square
one by rejecting it, appears to put us at risk of harmful actions allowed under a flawed plan, before interim amendments
can be adopted to address problems.
It would aid public understanding if the existing provisions were clarified for the next reading of this bill.
I plowed through minutes of the last relevant meeting, plus four past ordinances related to Bill 181, looking for the
existing provisions regarding amendments. But I'm not sure I was looking at the correct information.
It looks like this bill would take us back to the way things were done in 2007. It would be helpful to know why Council
decided to change the procedure back then.
I hope any amendments proposed by Council will include:
Adding the subtitle "Stewardship Plan for Hawaii Island", remembering the saying "He ah'i ka'aina; he kauwa ke
kanaka": the land is a chief; people are its servant. Quite different from "land use".
Revising the Policy Rationale, using the 2005 plan and 2019 draft plan as bases, showing what
was not carried forward into the 2045 plan, and explaining why. The 2045 plan is only half as long as the 2005
plan, so apparently a lot was left out. The current Policy Rationale only shows what was carried forward, and
without the context of the entire original documents.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Conan,
t:ci. -co.