HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0493.074 2000-2002 G~N~~aL IPLAN TE~T'11~4110NY
This testimony is submitted on behalf of Na Leo Pohai, the public policy arm of
the Kona Outdoor Circle.
We recommend the General Plan be adopted as presently written and without
further changes. In our view the adoption of the Plan is four years overdue.
We believe that the new General Plan being proposed for adoption is a better
Plan than the one it is designed to replace. We think that the new General Plan
does not go far enough in making necessary changes to protect and preserve
what we have on our Island, nor does it properly reach out to ensure that our
Island, and Kona in particular will remain clean, green, and beautiful.
Once the General Plan is adopted, we recommend that our County Govemment
and the City Council appoint a working committee to draft a new General Plan.
The Council and County Government should then adopt aResolution -to replace
the Plan we are proposing be adopted this year, with a better General Plan
drafted by the working committee.
We have experienced residents on this Island who are well versed in county and
city planning. Residents who have are aware of our rich ethnic and occupational
diversity, our needs, our budget constraints, as well as the shortcomings in our
General Plan. A committee which includes some of these residents, persons
from the County Govemment, and County Council should be tasked and
empowered to develop a Plan which clearly and concisely outlines our planning
objectives, and the articulates how we will go about accomplishing them. Illlost
likely we can adopt a Plan from a well planned community, and then alter it to
suit the needs of this Island. The new General Plan should be aired among the
residents, and constructive suggestion and feedback used to improve the Plan
prior to implementation. However, lets realize that unanimous consensus is
neither possible, nor is it necessary.
In the meantime, we need to be aware that the General Plan we are asking be
adopted now is weak in many areas, and does not go far enough to ensure smart
and equitable growth. We therefore need to be vigilant, cooperative, and
proactive as communities. We need to ensure that the loopholes in this Plan, and
there are many, do as little as possible to compromise our common goals and
interests. RE~iV~~ .,,,,,~.y~
dime--------------•-- ~Y-.___
Rab S. PUrI Date------------~it- a J ~
Vice President of Public Affairs county council '
Kona Outdoor Circle ~ '
Comer, Naa
File No. ~~yy
6/19/02 RSP Ref. ~'o: j°"~
R.ef. Date JUL ~ ~ 1002