HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0372.198 2024-2026Heather L. Kimball
Council District 1-
HBmakua, North Hilo,
portions of Waimea
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
Phone: (808) 961-8828
Fax: (808) 961-8912
Emil.' Heather. Kimboll(a)hmmilcountygov.
HAWAPI COUNTY COUNCIL
25 Aupuni Street Ste. 1402.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
April 6, 2026
Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Council Chair
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
*Heather L. Kimball, Council Member
District 1
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendments to Bill 66, Draft 2; AN ORDINANCE
ADOPTING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I GENERAL PLAN 2045
AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 05-025, AS AMENDED.
Transmitted herewith are amendments to Bill No. 66, Draft 2. The amendments are shown below
in Ramseyer format with respect to the contents of Appendix A; material to be inserted is
underlined, and material to be deleted is bracketed and stricken. Any material not expressly set
forth herein is unaffected by these amendments. Due to the limited scope of these amendments, a
copy of the new draft of this bill that would result if these proposed amendments were adopted is
not attached.
1. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.1, is amended by amending the following language:
"The land use element of the General Plan [is intended te be used as a paliey guide for
shall serve as the
primary governing framework for coordinated growth and sustainable development
across the island, establishing binding direction for the location, intensity, and timing of
development. As required by the State Planning Act, this section contains goals, policies,
standards, and implementation priority actions to define patterns of future growth and
guide the location and density of land uses within the County[.], including the
identification of priority growth areas, limited growth areas, and areas where
development intensity shall be constrained by infrastructure capacity and hazard
exposure."
"The land use section seeks to establish the most desirable use of land and the desirable
distribution of population and development intensity across regions of the County, in
accordance with the County Charter, section 3-15, for residential, recreational,
agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other purposes which shall be consistent with the
I
proper conservation of natural resources and the preservation of our natural beauty and
historical sites.
[The land use seetien is a land based syn4hesis aft -he values, goals, and eb-Jeetives afthe
other .°.bons ,....,,prising this Plan-.] This component guides where and how land uses,
infrastructure, and services should be directed to promote and protect the values of the
people of Hawaii Island and to best achieve the goals and objectives outlined in the
various elements of the Plan."
2. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.1, is amended by adding the following language:
"The Countv shall direct the maiority of future residential, commercial, and employment
Secondary growth areas shall include existing town centers and transit -supportive
corridors. Limited growth areas shall include rural and agricultural areas, particularly
those with insufficient infrastructure. Restricted growth areas will be those areas with
high hazard exposure. Development intensity shall decrease progressively from Primary
Growth Areas to Restricted Growth Areas."
3. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Table 17, entitled "Land Use Challenges", is amended by adding
the following language:
"Planning • Majority rural nopulation requires clear differentiation between rural
Implications lifestyle and urban service delivery,
• Housing affordability requires targeted density increases in infrastructure -
served areas.
• Aging population requires compact, service -accessible development
patterns.
4. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.2, Objective 9, Policy 9.2, is amended to read as
follows:
"In those cases where provisions of the zoning and subdivision code are inconsistent with
the character of surrounding neighborhoods, variances[, or Planned Unit Developments
(ur m) that ..akit..;.... .stemyillagen,...,....t......eter should be a ...,a.] shall be
limited to circumstances where they do not undermine adopted land use patterns, density
recommendations, or infrastructure constraints."
5. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.2, Objective 9, Policy 9.6, is amended to read as
follows:
"In the review of discretionary permits, [eansider land use eempatibility ] require and
demonstrate compatibility with surrounding land uses to ensure proximate compatible
and complementary uses and appropriate mitigation measures."
6. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.2, Objective 11, Policy 11.1, is amended to read as
follows:
"Ensure there is necessary and adequate on -site infrastructure for development projects
may include but not limited to water, wastewater, and multimodal infrastructure[:], and
prohibit development intensity that exceeds available infrastructure capacity unless such
capacity is funded and programmed in the Capital Improvements Program."
7. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.2, Objective 11, Policy 11.4, is amended to read as
follows:
"Concurrency reviews [sheuld] shall incorporate reduction in vehicle miles traveled to
mitigate traffic impacts and [aehieve sustainability and demand Fnanagement geals.]
prioritize development in areas where multimodal infrastructure exists or is planned."
8. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.3, is amended by amending the following language to
read as follows:
"Purpose and Authority of the General Plan Land Use Map
The designated land uses are delineated on the General Plan Land Use Map. The broad -
brush boundaries indicated are graphic expressions of the General Plan policies,
particularly those relating to land use. They are forward -looking, long-range guides to the
general location and will be subject to a) existing zoning; and b) the State Land Use
District. While some future actions must be consistent with the Plan, it is not retroactive
and does not change existing subdivisions or zoning. Similarly, the acreages allocated
represent alternatives for the various levels of economic activity and supporting
functions, such as resort, residential, commercial, and industrial activities. The land use
pattern [is a broad, flexible design intended to ga ,, he difeetio ] shall serve as the
primary policy framework governing the geographic distribution and intensity of
development, and quality of future developments in a coordinated and rational manner.
The General Plan Land Use Map indicates the general location of various land uses in
relation to each other."
9. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.3, is amended by amending the following language:
"Interpretation
Interpretation of the General Plan Land Use Map should be reviewed against the
following criteria: parcel boundaries, census block groups, place types, County zoning
designations, State land use designations, and Community Development Plan (CDP)
guidance. Because of the scale of the land use maps, the location of designated Natural
lands should be verified by more detailed mapping when considering specific land use
decisions. In the event of questions related to the General Plan land use designation of a
parcel or area, the Planning Director will utilize the above criteria and any other relevant
research and information available at the time to provide a clear interpretation of the
General Plan Land Use Maps. Interpretation shall prioritize consistency with the Urban
densities."
10. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.4, is amended by adding the following language:
"Expansion of development outside UGAs shall be limited to areas with infrastructure
capacity, demonstrated public benefit from expansion that are also consistent with hazard
mitigation policies."
11. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.4, Objective 13, Policy 13.24, is amended to read as
follows:
"[Diseeuragej Prohibit new strip or spot commercial development on the highway
outside of the UGAs."
12. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.4, Objective 13, Policy 13.36, is amended to read as
follows:
"Industrial uses [may bepen outside UGAs flipaugh r_..,.:.., De....,:.......,.. whe 1
shall be limited outside the UGAs to cases where there is a clear community benefit or
consistent with County, State, and Federal sustainability objectives."
13. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.5, is amended by adding the following language:
"Subdivision in rural areas shall be clustered to minimize infrastructure costs and
14. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.6, Objective 15, Policy 15.1, is amended to read as
follows:
"Development in Productive Agriculture and Extensive Agriculture areas [should-inelude
"s ie��'_�] shall include agricultural uses as the primary land use related
economic infrastructure and cottage industries, compatible renewable energy, open area
recreational uses, community facilities, and compatible agriculture worker housing."
15. Chapter 4, Element 4.1, Section 4.1.6, Objective 15, is amended.by adding a policy to be
appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
"15.12 Non-agricultural residential development shall not be the dominant use on
Productive Agricultural parcels larger than three acres."
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