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M~v or y,~ <br /> t1~."~ '~d'4~' <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII <br /> 9j~ %•N'~ <br /> BILL NO. i~5 <br /> ORDINANCE NO. (°RAFT a ~ <br /> <br /> ORDINANCE TO INITIATE A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, CHAPTER 4, <br /> <br /> OE THE HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER (2000), ESTABLISHING WINDWARD AND <br /> LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSIONS. <br /> <br /> BF, IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`L <br /> SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to initiate an amendment to the <br /> <br /> Hawaii County Charter that would provide for two planning commissions in Hawaii County. <br /> <br /> Over the past several decades population growth has resulted in an unprecedented rise in <br /> <br /> development activity particularly affecting the leeward region of Hawaii County. It is estimated <br /> <br /> that most of the construction and development occurring in leeward Hawaii is the result of <br /> <br /> rezoning applications approved many years ago. Baseline information indicates that the <br /> <br /> windward district is also experiencing an unprecedented rise in development activity and <br /> infrastructure pressures similar to that which has manifested in leeward Hawaii over the years. <br /> <br /> This alarming rate of growth affecting both the windward and leeward areas of Hawaii County <br /> <br /> and potential impacts resulting from proposed future developments and pending rezoning <br /> <br /> requests justify the creation of two planning commissions to serve Hawaii County. Two <br /> independent planning commissions would be better equipped to focus on issues specific to the <br /> respective affected districts and thus promote clear and concise regional discussions regarding <br /> levels of service, mitigation measures and future planning deficits. The two independent <br /> planning commissions would focus deliberations upon and assure sensitive consideration of the <br /> unique demographics within Hawaii County. Two independent planning commissions would <br /> eliminate the perception of a "one-size-tits-all" method of planning. <br /> This proposal would create a windward planning commission and a leeward planning <br /> commission based upon judicial districts and as demarcated by district boundaries set forth in §4- <br /> 1(1), Haw. Rev. Stat., which provides as follows: <br /> "...Q) "fhe island and County of Hawaii shall be divided into nine districts as follows: <br /> (A) Puna, to be styled the Puna district; <br /> (B) From the Hakalau stream to the boundary of South Hilo and Yuna, to be <br /> styled the South Hilo district; <br /> (C) From the boundary of the Hamakua and North Hilo to the I lakalau stream, to <br /> be styled the Norih Hilo district; <br /> (D) Hamakua, to be styled the Hamakua district; <br /> (E) North Kohala, to be styled the North Kohala district; <br /> (F) South Kohala, to be styled the South Kohala district; <br /> (G) North Kona„ to be styled the North Kona district; <br /> (H) South Kona, to be styled the South Kona district; and <br /> <br />