HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0493.044 2000-2002
June 21, 2002
Aloha Hawaii County Council,
Mahalo for accepting my testimony on the I-Iawaii County General Plan revisions.
I would like to say that I favor many of the revisions that have been made to the new
General plan, not the least of which is the designation of the Kona coffee belt as
important agricultural lands as ~~rell as the addition of conservation lands at the northern
end of the proposed Kealakekua. I3ay State Historical Park, land now referred to oflen as
Keopuka; although I believe this also includes Kaawaloa ahupua'a. As you are aware,
the northern end of Kealakekua I;3ay is a Marine Life Conservation District and the only
fish refuge presently established along the entire Kona coast. Expanding the land
designation around the bay as conservation, only snakes cents (pun intended) and shows a
clear vision for the future of our island. Not only is this area rich in cultural heritage, but
it is a very large economic generator as well, for the entire county. We must remember
that water flows downhill, so that any development within the Kealakekua I3ay
Watershed potentially influences the quality of the class AA waters. I-Iowever, water
flows downhill everywhere on the island that I have been, so I must now say that I
e new General plan as-iprd. r-i,~ b Q~.-~
The reasons for this became clear last night. The area immediately mauka of Kaloko-
Honokohau National Park, G-14, is designated as industrial in the new plan, this is
ludicrous! Any non-point source runoffgenerated by industrial development in this area
would further threaten the park wetlands, an area already under significant pressure
according to the USGS (Reports published in 1999 and 2000). Therefore, as planning
Director Yuen explained last night, any amendment sends the plan back to the planning
commissionm ,
I therefore encourage you to amend the new general plan to protect our coastlines with
significant CONSERVATION buffers, not open spaces, since golf courses and other
agricultural activities can be developed in open space. Please use open space to preserve
our view planes, most significantly between Keahole International Airport and K_ailua. I
further suggest that you protect our coastal Parks and wetlands by taking an integrated
look at the lands mauka. The general plan is a vision for tomorrow, an idea on paper fir
how we want our island to be. I urge the members of the council to be visionaries, and
take a bold step into the future. Propose the zoning that protects our resources, this is not
a taking it is planning for the future.
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f„ounty Council i P- 1-
Roge ilts, Ph.D.
Project Director, Water Sentinels
Sierra Club
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