REP PC 069 02/05/2008 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ , . . REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: February 5, 2008 Re: Comm. No. 945/Resolution No. 499-OS PLACE: Councilroom Ben Franklin Building 333 Kilauea Avenue, 2"d Floor Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 1:30 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Resolution No. 499-08, reports as follows: Resolution No. 499-08, transmitted via Communication No. 945 from Council Member Dominic Yagong, dated January 18, 2008, transmitting a Resolution encouraging the commercial Eucalyptus Forestry Industry and the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work together to promote better management practices by implementing setbacks and/or buffer zones where eucalyptus trees border residential homes, State highways, and County roads. Resolution No. 499-08 states that due to the proximity of the highly-combustible eucalyptus trees and maintenance of falling leaves and branches, homeowners have expressed concerns relating to the threat of forest fires and safe exit of their homes through County roadways during a forest fire emergency. It further states that these concerns could be mitigated if residential homes, State highways and County roadways aze buffered by implementation of a 120-foot setback from property lines and roadways during reforestation. Resolution No. 499-08 also notes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) encourages Best Management Practices through its Forest Stewardship program and that all Forest Stewardship Program participants must adhere to these practices to prevent harm and damage to people and property. Resolution No. 499-08 recommends that the commercial eucalyptus forestry industry work with DOFAW to complete a reforestation plan that delineates specific setbacks and/or buffer zones of 120 feet from residential homes, State highways and County roadways. At the February 5, 2008 Planning Committee meeting, Council Member Yagong recalled that at the start of the industry many community discussions were conducted and that he was happy to see that ten years later, community awareness meetings among the industry and Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate have proved promising. Mr. Yagong stated he felt that bringing forwazd a Resolution as opposed to an Ordinance provides the opportunity for working together to determine and develop azeas that should require setbacks. He also felt that if this measure came forward as an ordinance, it may result with cutting trees in azeas we didn't want it to happen preferred not to end up with unintended consequences. PC Report No. 69