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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 085 05/06/2008 2006-2008 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: May 6, 2008 Re: Comm. 1201/Bill 297 PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa 78-128 Ehukai Street Kailua-Kona, Hawaii TIME: 2:30 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill 297, reports as follows: Bill 297, transmitted via Communication 1201 from Planning Director Chris Yuen, dated April 15, 2008, presents an amendment to Chapter 16, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), establishing a framework for the Community Development Plans and Establishing the Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee. Bill 297 seeks to establish a framework to adopt and amend Community Development Plans and to establish the Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee as the body that supersedes the CDP Steering Committee upon adoption of a community development plan by the County Council. The Planning Director states that the key elements and rationale of Bill 297 are as follows: • The proposal amends Chapter 16 (The Hawaii County General Plan), as CDPs are "short and middle range" plans that further define the broader goals of the General Plan; • The proposal outlines the relationship of the CDPs within the context of the broader General Plan framework and the process for CDP adoption and amendment; • The proposed ordinance also addresses details relating to the "CDP Action Committee" which is named as such to avoid confusion with other councils. The proposed ordinance also provides that the CDP Action Committee would consist of a 9-member body to provide adequate representation and compensate for inevitable absences, and details membership terms and a broad membership selection criteria; • The proposed ordinance also outlines duties and responsibilities of the CDP Action Committee and its key focus is advisory oversight and advocacy. It is not the intent that the Action Committee duplicate existing regulatory review such as Planning Commission and Board of Appeals. • The Action Committee is intended to be the community entity to provide input on CDP and General Plan amendments and updates and will also monitor the effectiveness and progress of CDP implementation and provide recommendations on County CIP and operating budgets. PC Report No 85 Communication 1201 Bill 297 Page 2 of 3 At the May 6, 2008 Committee on Planning meeting, Margaret Wille and Ken Melrose presented testimony in support of Bill 297 and Mr. Mark McNett provided comment. Council Chair Hoffmann presented a brief summary of the proposal explaining that when a Community Development Plan is completed, the CDP Steering Committee no longer exists and therefore regardless of the success of the CDP, there is no existing legislation or method to continue the effort of the CDP Steering Committee. Mf. Hoffmann stated that this proposal is the mechanism that will provide what takes place as the CDP moves ahead. There was discussion among Councilmembers regarding adequacy of the number of members comprising the action committee and whether that number should be less than nine especially due to the ongoing difficulty in securing volunteers from the community to serve on committees such as this. It was also discussed whether Chapter 16 was the appropriate section within the Hawaii County Code in which to imbed the proposed measure. Director Yuen explained that this action committee is being looked at as an advocate and implementation group. Mr. Yuen noted that because a great deal of effort has been expended in developing CDPs he does not see this group engaging in continuous planning efforts but rather saw the group as advocates for a CDP that has been adopted by the Council. Mr. Yuen envisions this group as the community's voice on implementing the CDP rather than another body that reviews and makes changes to the CDP. Councilmember Yagong said it makes good sense to him to have some of the CDP Steering Committee members also serve on the CDP Action Committee. Councilmember Jacobson stated this is a vitally important process containing the vision of the community who created the plan and expressed his support with the hope that the implementation team carries forward the community's desires. Council Chair Hoffmann stated there is the need for a consistent overview by the people within the community to ensure that the CDP is implemented as intended and that the important thing to remember is not the number of members, but the opportunity to have something on the books that allows for further input regarding the implementation process. This would allow the Puna community, who was the first to complete its CDP, the means for continued community oversight Councilmember Naeole stated she preferred a 9-member action committee because it equates to a well-balanced representation comprised of three members from her district, three members from Councilmember Yoshimoto's district and three members from Councilmember Jacobson's district. Councilmember Higa's concern was that formation of this action committee group seemed to be duplicating the CDP process. Mr. Higa felt that the administration, the Council and the Planning Commission's use of CDPs and the General Plan as their respective template for planning was adequate and therefore could not see how this new action group fits in. PC Report No. 85 i Communication 1201 i Bill 297 Page 3 of 3 1 - I i Planning Director Yuen stated that the impetus is that the CDP process was a grass roots effort and the people wanted some means of being able to carry the CDP forward via a follow-up community body which all CDP Steering Committees advocated for. Mr. Yuen said they took this concept in an effort to make the desires of the people happen and also afford the group standing with the County. i Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill 297 and recommends it pass first reading. and AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted, FORD X HIGA X CONMTTEE ON PL G HOFFA ANN X MDA X JACOBSON X NAEOLE X K. ANGEL PULA , CHAIR PILAGO X YAGONG X PC REPORT NO. 85 1 YOSHIMOTO x ADOPTED: JUN 0 3 2