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<br /> June 21, 2002 <br /> Aloha Hawaii County Council, <br /> <br /> Mahalo for accepting my testimony on the I-Iawaii County General Plan revisions. <br /> I would like to say that I favor many of the revisions that have been made to the new <br /> General plan, not the least of which is the designation of the Kona coffee belt as <br /> <br /> important agricultural lands as ~~rell as the addition of conservation lands at the northern <br /> end of the proposed Kealakekua. I3ay State Historical Park, land now referred to oflen as <br /> Keopuka; although I believe this also includes Kaawaloa ahupua'a. As you are aware, <br /> the northern end of Kealakekua I;3ay is a Marine Life Conservation District and the only <br /> fish refuge presently established along the entire Kona coast. Expanding the land <br /> designation around the bay as conservation, only snakes cents (pun intended) and shows a <br /> clear vision for the future of our island. Not only is this area rich in cultural heritage, but <br /> it is a very large economic generator as well, for the entire county. We must remember <br /> that water flows downhill, so that any development within the Kealakekua I3ay <br /> Watershed potentially influences the quality of the class AA waters. I-Iowever, water <br /> flows downhill everywhere on the island that I have been, so I must now say that I <br /> e new General plan as-iprd. r-i,~ b Q~.-~ <br /> The reasons for this became clear last night. The area immediately mauka of Kaloko- <br /> Honokohau National Park, G-14, is designated as industrial in the new plan, this is <br /> ludicrous! Any non-point source runoffgenerated by industrial development in this area <br /> would further threaten the park wetlands, an area already under significant pressure <br /> according to the USGS (Reports published in 1999 and 2000). Therefore, as planning <br /> Director Yuen explained last night, any amendment sends the plan back to the planning <br /> commissionm , <br /> I therefore encourage you to amend the new general plan to protect our coastlines with <br /> significant CONSERVATION buffers, not open spaces, since golf courses and other <br /> agricultural activities can be developed in open space. Please use open space to preserve <br /> our view planes, most significantly between Keahole International Airport and K_ailua. I <br /> further suggest that you protect our coastal Parks and wetlands by taking an integrated <br /> look at the lands mauka. The general plan is a vision for tomorrow, an idea on paper fir <br /> how we want our island to be. I urge the members of the council to be visionaries, and <br /> take a bold step into the future. Propose the zoning that protects our resources, this is not <br /> a taking it is planning for the future. <br /> Res y, 1'~me_.------•------- - Byr-------------°-~ <br /> 1o1~DI ~ <br /> ~te-.....,~.--- <br /> f„ounty Council i P- 1- <br /> Roge ilts, Ph.D. <br /> Project Director, Water Sentinels <br /> Sierra Club <br /> ~mm. rd~ <br /> ~°lle Ido. _ - <br /> Fief. `To: - <br /> JUL ~ 3 Z00~ <br /> <br />