HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 018 04/05/2011 2010-2012 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: April 5, 2011 Re: Comm. No. 137/ Bill No. 37
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hawai'i County Building
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, Hawai'i
TIME: 1:32 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 37, reports as follows:
Bill No. 37, transmitted by Mayor William P. Kenoi, via Communication No. 137 dated
March 3, 2011, is an Ordinance amending the Puna Community Development Plan, as adopted by
Ordinance No. 08 -116 and amended by Ordinance No. 10 -104, relating to Community Parks. This
bill allows for a community involvement process to determine the location of three community
parks in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision.
Councilmember Ford asked if the three sites in the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP)
were chosen by Hawaiian Acres homeowners and if there was community input in picking the sites.
She asked if someone from the Steering Committee was present.
Ms. Stephanie Bath, former member of the PCDP Steering Committee, came forward and explained
that many sites were identified by the committee but none were definitively chosen. The locations
listed in the PCDP were potential sites.
Councilmember Onishi called on public testifier Patrice Macdonald to come forward and answer
questions. Ms. Macdonald stated the connector roads will go through forest preserve areas and said
there were better locations. She also stated that the subdivision already has parks and believes that
a park by the community center would be a better location.
Mr. Brown stated that the steering committee was no longer in existence. He added that the
connector roads are not supposed to be major thoroughfares and might not even be paved. He
further stated that any impact could be deemphasized by placing parks at the point of connectivity
to other subdivisions and did not understand the reference to forest preserves because there are none
in the subdivision.
PC Report No. 18
PC- 18 Page 2 Comm. 137/Bill 37
Committee Chair Hoffmann asked who proposed this bill and was informed that they came from
testimony submitted by Ms. Macdonald, who represents the Hawaiian Acres Community
Association.
Councilmember Smart related that the bill specifically states "to be determined later through a
community involvement process."
Councilmember Pilago again asked who proposed the amendments and Planning Director
Leithead Todd came forward and stated that the Planning Department initiated the bill at the request
of the PCDP Action Committee.
Councilmember Yagong supports the bill as it still allows for the community involvement process.
He questioned who would organize the community dialogue. Ms. Leithead Todd stated that the
discussion should take place during the community association meeting and then be given to the
PCDP action committee.
Committee Chair Hoffmann stated that he supports the bill and Councilmember Ford requested that
members of the PCDP Action Committee and Steering Committee be available at the Council
meeting when the bill comes before full Council.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 37 and
recommends it pass first reading.
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AYES NOES A &E EX Respectfully submitted,
BLAS X
FORD X COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
HOFFMANN X
IKEDA X
ONISHI X
PILAGO X / i"' vI , , /
SMART x PETE HOFFM A 0 , r CHAI
YAGONG X PC ' pt '' NO. 18
YOSHIMOTO x ADOPTED: AY 17 2011