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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0372.195 2024-2026Ntv,or ' Ashley L. %ierkiewicz ,y?•w ""*., Office: (808) 96I-8265 Council Member •: Fax: (808) 961-8912 District 4Puna •ashleykierkiewicz@h"aiicountygov cam' •1}!•p�•N�� HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL Hawaii County Building �3 a O C7 25 Aupuni Street • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 a Z O a --I C- DATE: March 19, 2026 10 C 3 =r AT TO: Holeka Inaba, Council Chairperson ty g And Members of the Hawaii County Council N D ts� FROM: KJ 'Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Council Member Chair, Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use & Economic Development RE: About the 2026 General Plan The proposed General Plan 2026 draws directly from the 2045 Draft. The policies, priorities, and years of community engagement reflected in that document form the foundation of what is now before the Council. This memorandum explains how that material was used, what was adjusted and why, and how the 2026 Plan aligns with Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 226 and the Hawaii County Charter. The 2045 Draft contains many valuable ideas and policy directions. It also includes material that goes beyond the statutory role of a general plan. Many of those provisions are worthwhile County objectives, but they are better addressed in other instruments, such as functional plans, departmental work programs, Community Development Plans, or the Capital Improvement Program. The General Plan should not be a catch-all for every worthy goal the County might pursue. _ What a General Plan is Authorized to Do A General Plan establishes land use policy and development guidance. That is both its legal power and its practical limit. Where the 2045 Draft ventures into areas such as carbon accounting systems, fleet electrification programs, or healthcare delivery standards, it enters operational and programmatic territory that a General Plan cannot enforce. Comm. No. �•�'IJ Ref. To: 0so. QG�al> Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Ref. Date tMAR_r 2- LOr 242 Hmvai'i County is an Equal OpportunityProvider and Employer - - - - _ The 2026 Plan refocuses on what the General Plan is designed to do: establish the policy framework that guides land use decisions, shapes development patterns, directs infrastructure investment, and stewards natural and cultural resources. The 2026 Plan's Relationship to the 2045 Draft On April 7, 2025, the 2045 General Plan Draft was transmitted to the Council via Communication No. 372. The Council is now exercising its Charter authority to review and refine the final product before adoption. At this point, the 2026 Plan should be referred to the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions for their independent review and comment. The 2026 Plan maintains the core intent of the 2045 Draft — to guide growth, protect resources, strengthen communities, and improve coordination across County government. Where necessary provisions have been clarified, consolidated, or removed when they go beyond County authority. The 2026 Plan is grounded in the same record that informed the 2045 Draft: a decade of community engagement, Planning Commission deliberations, public testimony, and ongoing updates from the Planning Department. Planning Commission review provides a public forum to evaluate the 2026 Plan against that record and return recommendations to the Council before final action. The Role of the General Plan The 2045 Draft blends policy direction with program design, implementation schedules, and operational detail. The 2026 Plan separates those functions, restoring the General Plan to its intended role as the County's long-range policy framework while directing programs and projects to the instruments designed to carry them out. 2045 Draft 2026 Plan Mixes policy and operational programs Focuses on the policy framework Includes programmatic initiatives Removes operational programs Contains project -level actions Defers projects to CIP and work programs Attempts to direct social and economic programs Guides land use conditions for those outcomes 14 land use designations and parcel -level mapping Four broad categories with subcategories Standalone Climate Change element with unenforceable targets Climate is embedded in elements within the County authority A General Plan is most effective when it sets clear policy direction and leaves implementation to the appropriate tools: Community Development Plans, the Capital Improvement Program, the annual budget, departmental initiatives, and County ordinances. The 2026 Plan restores that structure. Basis for Refinement Refinement followed a consistent principle: retain policy direction within County authority and relocate or remove material that cannot be implemented through the General Plan. These changes do not diminish community or County priorities. They ensure those priorities are properly scoped, enforceable, and aligned with the tools available to the County. When too much is placed into a General Plan, the document begins to overpromise, and the County is left to underdeliver. If every concept is treated as a priority, nothing is. The 2026 Plan carries forward appropriate substance from the 2045 process in a form that can guide decisions over the twenty-year horizon the General Plan is intended to serve. The following table summarizes how each section of the 2045 Draft was carried forward into the 2026 Plan. It identifies what was retained, consolidated, relocated, or removed, along with the reason for those changes. CC Mayor's Office Corporation Counsel Planning Department Core Framework & Structure 2045 Sectionlropic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Introduction; Plan Purpose; Condensed Legal grounding, planning hierarchy, and the Broad sustainability HRS 226 and Charter 3-15 define the GP's Planning System; Vision GoaWolicies/Actions structure. =native, repeated scope; introductory language beyond that Pages 24-35 definitional framing, and definition creates interpretive ambiguity. aspimtional vision statements not tied to specific County authority. Plan Authority: Regulatory Condensed The distinction between regulatory tools, capital Detailed program typologies Program -level detail belongs in vs. Non -Regulatory Action investment, coordination, and programs is now and project -level examples. departmental work plans and the CIP. The Pages 27-33 embedded in the Implementation Element. GP establishes the framework; it does not manage programs. Natural & Cultural Resources / Climate 2045 SectiooA'opic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Collaborative Biocultuml Retained Native ecosystem protection, watershed Detailed program Specific program campaigns and grant Stewardship stewardship, invasive species management, scenic mechanisms, specific pursuits are operational matters for Pages 36-48 route protection, and cultural landscape grant -pursuit actions, departments. Inventories are reference preservation all carried forward. The cultural interagency campaign material, not policy. Charter authorizes practitioner/public access for subsistence —a direct language, and Natural protection of 'natural beauty and historical response to GMAC's letter — was added. Beauty Site inventory tables. sites'— the policy is preserved. Climate —Introduction; Condensed Climate background informed the direction of The extended narrative was Background analysis is not policy. GP Challenge; Opportunity natural hazards, stormwater, watershed, energy, removed from the policy findings sections should explain why a (Background) and land use policies throughout lire 2026 Plan, text. topic matters to land use decisions, not Pages 55-67 and is reflected in the Findings sections of reproduce technical reports.` Elements 3, 4, and 5. Climate —Objective; Policy; Relocated Natural hazard avoidance, watershed and native Net -zero targets, 100% Carbon reduction targets require State and Action ecosystem protection, stormwater management, renewable fleet mandate, federal regulatory authority —not County Pages 68-71 and energy project siting, as it relates to reducing 'just transition' framework, land use authority. Fleet procurement is a long-term infrastructure vulnerability, are equity dashboards, outreach budget and purchasing decision. 'Just integrated into relevant elements. campaigns, and climate transition' has not been defined under HRS benchrunking actions. 226 or Charter 3-15. Dashboards and campaigns are operational matters. Land Ilse Rr. Develnnment Pattern 2045 Section/Topic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Land Use— Introduction; Retained Community character, the ahupua`a framework, TOR program mechanics TDR programs and acquisition Objective', Policy; Action equitable planning process requirements, and specific open space mechanisms are implementation tools that Pages 72-82 hazard -aware siting, and infrastmctme- acquisition details removed are operational in nature. The GP can sequencing principle all carried forward. from policy text. direct development without specifying design and color. Land Use Designations — Condensed Urban Growth Area framework, infill, rural and 14-designation parcel -level Over -prescription at the GP level increases UGA; Rural; Agriculture agricultural protection, and open space policies all mapping removed. Standard litigation risk and removes decision - Pages 83-102 carried forward. The 2026 Plan introduces the and guideline details making flexibility over a 20-year horizon. Growth Receiving Areas concept as a new tool. tightened for readability. Fora broad categories with subcategories based on the 2045 Draft maps. Infrastructure Svstems 2045 SectionuTipic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Transportation Access and Condensed Multimodal network planning, roadway safety and Mass transit ridership and Details removed belong in the MTA's Mobility maintenance, Complete Streets, emergency access, VMT targets, LOS service plans and functional plans. Pages 103-123 and ADA compliance all tamed forward. standards, street typology manuals, marketing campaigns, corridor acquisition program details, transportation plan, and production schedules. Public Utilities— Water, Retained Watershed protection, conservation -oriented rate 100% renewable energy by State law and departmental operations Wastewater, Stormwateq structure, reclaimed water reuse, su rrnwater green 2045 as a binding GP target; govern these matters. The County's Energy infrastructure, on -site management requirements, One Water campaign advocacy and coordination role is fully Pages 124-146 energy siting standards, and energy efficiency in program details; specific preserved. County facilities all carried forward. Stonnwater technology mandates. moved from Transportation to Public Utilities. Public Utilities— Condensed Broadband access, co -location of telecom Submarine cable advocacy, Federal/State jurisdiction and private sector Telecommunications and infrastructure,siting, and design standards retained service provider incentives, domain Broadband Connectivity as policy goals. cybersecurity, last -mile Pages 147-150 subsidies, and broadband deployment dashboards. Public Facilities & Services 2045 Sectionfropic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Public Facilities & Services— Condensed Facility siting, service coverage distribution, Detailed departmental Operational management, not land use Protective Services; Facility emergency operations planning, and multi -purpose operating measures, staffing policy. Planning and hazard -resilient facility design for public ratios, and response times. Pages 151-160 buildings, all carried forward. Public Facilities & Services— Condensed Solid waste facility siting and land use Zero -waste targets, Zero Waste is an operational target. Park Solid Waste; Education; compatibility, composting and diversion 10-minute walk park proximity standards belong in a Parks Recreation infrastructure planning, parks and recreation standard, educationaccess, Master Plan or County Code. Education is Pages 161-174 facility distribution and equity, and recreational service models, and the State'sjurisdiction. access to natural resources all carried forward. recreational programming specifications. Public Facilities & Services — Relocated Land use compatibility, the County's enabling role Healthcare delivery The County does not regulate or operate Community Health and in facilitating healthcare access partnerships, and standards and social service healthcare systems. Wellness parks/trails as health infrastructure were retained. models. Pages 175-177 Housin¢ & Intezrated Systems 2045 Section/Topic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Housing for All Retained Affordable housing as a policy priority, full AMI production goals, unit Targets belong in housing plans. Pages 178-185 housing spectrum, housing -land use integration, targets, and project -level and infilVredevelopment priority all carved implementation details. forward. Integrated Systems Condensed Cross -sector coordination as a planning principle, The standalone Integrated Coordination is better enforced through the Pages 186-190 organizational alignment between departments, Systems element and equity Implementation Element's specific actions. and a systems -thinking approach to service outcome mandate were delivery are all absorbed and cross-referenced removed as a separate throughout all eight elements. element. Economy 2045 Sectioo/roplc Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Economy —Introduction; Condensed Diversification, local enterprise, place -based "Regenerative economy" Not grounded in County authority. Goal; Objective; Policy; revitalization, workforce development, and the ideological framing, United Substantive and relevant content preserved Action land use -economy link all carried forward. Nations Sustainability in plain language. Pages 191-200 Development Goals alignment references, and broad narrative repetition. Economy— Agriculture,and Retained Agricultural lands protection, water systems, Duplicated content Organized under appropriate elements; no Food Systems biosecurity, and local production are all carried streamlined. loss of substance. Pages 201-208 forward; content is distributed between Economy and Land Use. Economy —Visitor Industry Condensed i Destination Management Plan linkage, carrying Detailed destination- Destination management programs are Pages 209-213 capacity, tourism revenue reinvestment for management frameworks, operational matters. infrastructure, siting standards, and Banyan Drive campaign strategies. as a priority, all carried forward. Implementation, Monitoring & Maps 2045 Section/Topic Disposition What Was Drawn into the 2026 Plan What Was Trimmed Basis Implementation & Retained Planning hierarchy, CIP alignment, lifecycle None of the substance was Strong alignment with GP role; retained in Monitoring —Framing; CIP; costing, and coordination were all carried forward removed from this section. full. Planning Hierarchy and sharpened. Pages 214-220 , Monitoring and Evaluation; Condensed Monitoring and reporting requirements, 35-page implementation The 2026 Plan embeds responsibilities Implementation Tables transparency, and departmental responsibility were tables removed. directly in Actions. Pages 221-255 all carried forward. References Removed All technical references. Not policy; no legal effect. Pages 256-263 Policy Maps Refined Required land use map. The 2026 Plan presents a 14-designation consolidated Consistent with the Charter's'broad-bmsh' Pages 264.310 more streamlined version based on the 2045 Draft. into four broad categories. standard for GP maps.