HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0042.032 2004-2006 January 3, 2005
MEMO TO: Gary Safarik, Chair
& Members, Hawaii County Council
FROM: Ken Fujiyama, CEO
Nani Mau, Inc.
4
RE: Hawaii County General Plan Hearing, Bill #163
Before I elaborate on sections of the General Plan let me tell you a little about my
philosophies about land planning- I believe we should be selective in preserving choice
natural resources especially oceanfront properties for the use of the general public. I
would encourage acquisition through negotiations or even condemnation to accomplish
this goal. For fixrther information, with a committee of three we were able to convince
the State and County officials to close off the bayfront highway to enlarge our bayfront
pa~~k. We would have liked to close it from Mooheau Park. It was also my idea to the
Damon Estates for the National Park to acquire the Kahuku Ranch. I do not want the east
side of Hilo to stagnate from no growth but at the same time I would not like Hilo to be a
transit type of community. I believe in the General Plan which can set guidelines for the
development of our whole island so I would like to offer some suggestions which would
in my opinion make it a better plan to implement.
Another point I wish to make is that we own over 2000 acres of land in fee in Hamakua,
Hilo, Volcano and Kau and lease another 5000 acres in Kau but have not requested for
any General Plan amendment to this date which would affect our properties. I have
always referred to the General Plan as a guide for our acquisitions. To set the framework
for my comments I would like to quote a few areas of our laws.
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PLAN REQUIREMENTS
Chapter 46-4, HRS states in part:
"zoning shall be one of the tools available to the County to put the General Plan into
effect in an orderly manner"
Present procedures and zoning procedures takes too long.
Chapter 226-58 Hawaii Revised Statutes states:
"County general plans or development plans shall indicate desired population and
physical development patterns for each county or regions within each county."
General Plan proposal does not recognize this significant point.
Section 3-15 Hawaii County Charter reads: 32
Comm. No.
Ref. 70; E1~1~
Rof. Uale
"The County Council shall adopt by ordinances a general plan which shall set forth the
Council's policy for long-range comprehensive physical development of the County. It
shall contain ..."the most desirable density of~ulation in several parts of the
County"... and in other matters as may, in the Council's iudement be beneficial to...
(b) No public improvement... shall be initiated or adopted unless the same conforms
to and implements the General Plan
Procedures and broad brush map makes this impossible.
(c) Amendment to the General Plan may be initiated by the Council or the Planning
Director
For the sake of time I will try to elaborate in sequential order following the proposed
drafts of the General Plan that I have some concerns
3.4 DISTRICT VISION STATEMENTS
3.4.1 Puna District Vision Statement
[small-scale tourist-related activities.] large-scale tourist-related activities as in
the number one tourist attraction, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
CHAPTER 4 GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS
4.1 ECONOMIC ELEMENT
Development of sound public policy requires our understanding of the economic factor
affecting the planning area or region. Such factors are lazgely responsible for growth or a
lack of growth and any planning effort must take them into account.
• Rezone lands in bulk to allow immediate construction of all needs to accorrz~ish
the natural eowth of 2% of the pro~ect~ ed ponulation increaseper year and the
des>red densrtv in each district or re ion
2% of ] 50,000 population = 3000 new people per year.
4.3 HOUSING ELEMENT
Pazagtagh 3
From Government's perspective, [adequate housing) housing for all social levels
4.3.1 Housing Objectives
• Maintain a diversity ofsocial-economic housing mix throughout the different
parts of the County.
Contradicts paragragh 3 "adequate housing"
• The County shall provide low cost and temporary shelter which the private sector
cannot provide. A percentage of .003 of the annual operating County budget shall
be utilized to accomplish this plan to pay back any bond acquired for this project.
4.3.2 Housing Policies
• Establish a percentage .003 of the annual operating budget of housing funds to
provide temporary shelter for the homeless and low cost housing for people to
rent. Payment for rent may be traded for work inkind such as park or public
facilities maintenance.
• Infrastructure normally follows development which in turn provides increased tax
base to justify public improvement costs.
4.4.1.6.2 Parks and Recreation Policies
• Adopt an ongoing program...with appropriate governmental agencies, and rivate
non-profit corporations
4.4.1.6.3 Parks and Recreation Standards
• Encourage private parks and private overnight campgrounds.
4.4.1.8.2 Transportation Policy
• Promote no fault insurance that covers the policy holder and not others. This
would allow low-income or unemployed people to drive legally even if they are
uninsured. People insure their own life and house for what coverage they prefer.
The same thinking should be if they were to be in an accident.
4.4.3.1.10 Roadways
• [Explore the possibilities of developing] Develop amid-level roadway in Puna.
4.4.3.3.4 Waste Water
• Create ordinances to protect the public with septic tanks which require septic tank
cleaners to remove solids with each cleaning and not only liquid.
• Create a waste water plant in east Hawaii to accept liquids and solids from both
residential and commercial septic tanks.
4.5 LAND USE ELEMENT
Paragraphs 2 & 3 contradict Section 3-15 Hawaii County Charter reads:
(b) No public improvement, project, subdivision or zoning ordinances, shall be initiated
or adopted unless the same conforms to and implements the General Plan.
Note: the broad brush boundaries make it impossible to be in conformity.
4.5.3 Agricultural Designations
l.a
• Allows for owners to have single family house plus farm dwellings if needed as
allowed by zoning code
(d) When intensive agricultural land values have risen beyond the value for
agricultural purposes the County, State and Federal government shall provide
incentives such as waiving a portion of or eliminating all income and real property
taxes associated with the property.
• The council shall pursue to study and or implement all incentives to preserve
intensive agricultural lands.
4.5.7.4 Agriculture
• Personal single-family use shall never be taken away from agricultural designated
properties.
4.6.1 Natural Beauty, Resources and Environmental Quality Objectives
4.6.2.1 Natural Beauty
• Acquire selected lands that are significantly naturally beautiful by negotiations or
condemnation with the use of public and non-profit funds.
Amendment Procedures
A. (5) The Planning Director shall initiate proposed amendments with recommendations
to approve or deny such amendments within 60 days after the public deadline to submit
comments to the Planning Director. The proposed amendment shall then be submitted to
the Planning Commission for review and recommendation.
B. (e) change to A (9)
B. (2) (f) change to A (9)
3. (c) ...the Planning Director shall have 120 days to initiate any amendment to the
General Plan with recommendations to approve or deny.
3. (c) (i) delete
3. (c) (ii) delete
3. (d) [Should] The Planning shall then transmit...
C. (q) change to A (9)
6. (h) delete