HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0234.000 2010-2012 /V Of of
William P. Kenoi ' BJ Leithead Todd
Mayor . ,J \•' Director
Margaret Masunaga
5 f os'M►�'' Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Phone (808) 961 -8288 • Fax (808) 961 -8742
MEMORANDUM
To: Dominic Yagong, Council Chair and
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
From: BJ Leithead Todd, Planning Director *A.
Date: June 6, 2011
Re: Puna CDP Progress Report
I am pleased to transmit the enclosed copies of the First Progress Report the Puna Community
Development Plan covering the period September 2008 to May 2011. This report provides an
overview of what actions have been taken by government, community members and organizations and
the PCDP Action Committee toward realization of the goals and objectives of the PCDP through the
implementation of the specific Actions called for in the plan.
This report, along with the entire PCDP, as amended, and its related appendices documents are posted
on the PCDP website at http: / /www.hawaiicountycdp.info /puna -cdp. Please feel welcome to contact
Larry Brown at 961 -9135 if you have any questions or concerns.
No. Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer �+�IlIIA Z3
Ref. TO,
ref, DQt JUN 13 2011
PUNA COMMTJNITY
DFVELOPMIENT PLAN
First Progress Report
Implementation of Actions
September 2008 - May 2011
Malama Puna A Mau Loa
•
Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee:
Barbara Bell Keikialoha Kekipi
Gregory Braun Jeffrey Krepps
Frank Commendador Wesley Owens
Madie Greene Daniel Taylor
Larry Higgins Tim Tunison
Puna Community Development Plan Staff:
Larry M. Brown Elizabeth J. Hultman - Salfen Cynthia Lahilahi Verschuur
Project Manager Community Planning Assistant Meeting Recorder
JNtY• �! H1!y
William P. Kenoi �'•� '% BJ Leithead Todd
i ;�
Mayor ' Director
•,...4W• :�; Margaret Masunaga
4rE oF• M►+!� Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Phone (808) 961 -8288 • Fax (808) 961 -8742
Aloha,
On behalf of the Planning Department and the Puna Community Development Plan
Action Committee, I am pleased to present this First Puna CDP Progress Report for the period
September 2008 to May 2011. The Puna CDP was adopted by ordinance by the Hawai`i County
Council in August 2008 and signed into law by Mayor Harry Kim in September 2008. The Puna
CDP was subsequently amended by Ordinance 10 -104, effective November 2010 and is
currently undergoing additional amendments proposed by the Puna CDP Action Committee and
introduced by the Planning Director. The Puna CDP, as amended in November 2010, may be
viewed online at http: / /tinyurl.com/36o5p4k.
This report provides a comprehensive review of the activities of the Puna CDP Action
Committee since their appointment in October 2009. The report also includes a table identifying
Action Items in the CDP that have been completed or steps taken towards implementation since
the Puna CDP was adopted. Even though a number of those actions may have been initiated
and /or completed without direct involvement by the Action Committee or government agencies,
they are noted in this report to document and illustrate the broad range of public and private
involvement necessary to fulfill the community vision articulated in a living community
development plan.
Mahalo to all of those volunteers in the community, private sector entrepreneurs and
organizations, and government that have contributed to the accomplishments to date and the
successes of the future.
Sincerely,
BJ LEITHEAD TODD
Planning Director
BACKGROUND
The Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) was adopted by ordinance on September 10,
2008 and amended by Ordinance 10 -104 on November 4, 2010. The PCDP is intended to serve
as an extension of the County of Hawai`i General Plan by articulating district sensitive specific
growth management strategies and the delivery of government services through a broad -based
community input process. According to Chapter 16 -4 of the Hawai`i County Code (HCC) each
community development plan shall have an Action Committee (AC), which is advisory to the
Planning Director, to serve as a proactive, community -based steward of the plan's
implementation and update.
Although the initial Action Committee for the Puna CDP was not appointed and confirmed until
fourteen months after the plan became effective in September 2008, progress has been gaining
momentum since its first meeting on November 20, 2009. Just as the AC was beginning to focus
on identifying processes by which it could meet its goals and responsibilities Bill 194, which was
eventually adopted as Ordinance 10 -104 in October 2010, was introduced to the County Council
proposing a number of substantive amendments to the PCDP. The introduction of these
amendments to the PCDP required review and comment by the AC within a limited time frame
before the Planning Director could forward to the Windward Planning Condition with her
recommendations. The amendment review process by the AC included a public input effort that
required a two - session special public meeting in addition to three regularly scheduled public
meetings between February 18 and April 15, 2010. The AC recommendations to the Planning
Director included not only comments and recommendations on the amendments proposed in Bill
194, but also recommended a number of additional amendments resulting from community input,
six of which the Planning Director agreed to initiate after the County Council had taken final
action on Bill 194. At the time of this report three amendments have received a favorable
recommendation from the Hawai`i County Windward Planning Commission and have been
forwarded to the Hawai`i County Council for consideration. Those amendments call for:
1. Mass Transit Hele -On bus service to Hilo and Keahole airports;
2. Changes to the location of a proposed scenic turnout and restroom facility in Lower Puna;
and
3. The deletion of certain site specific language for proposed Community Parks in the
Hawaiian Acres Subdivision.
PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Despite the severe budget cuts impacting the level of government support available for CDP
Action Committee activities, the need to find effective strategies to move forward within the
constraints of the Sunshine Law, the numerous challenges faced attempting to generate and
sustain an effective and broad -based level of community participation in developing strategies
for implementation activities, and the varying individual and group uncertainties and
expectations regarding the roles and responsibilities of the AC, progress has been made in
establishing an ongoing process for meaningful community - government collaboration in the
implementation and updating of the Puna CDP that will hopefully serve this and future Action
Committees well. To that end, the AC has:
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1. Adopted an Implementation Matrix, which is posted on the PCDP website, that is
designed to keep an up to date detailed status on the progress for the implementation of
each Action in the plan;
2. Created six subcommittees, which include at least one, but not more than two, AC
Member liaisons to facilitate active community participation in the implementation of
PCDP Actions and other matters impacting the PCDP and the AC;
3. Adopted a process to allow the formation of Action Task Groups (ATG) under each
appropriate subcommittee to identify and take responsibility for the implementation
activities of individual Action items that can be completed or monitored by citizen -based
groups;
4. Adopted Work Plan templates, also posted on the PCDP website, that each Action Task
Group can develop and maintain for the specific Action in the plan that ATG takes
responsibility for;
5. Produced a Fact Sheet about the PCDP and AC for distribution to community groups and
organizations throughout the Puna district to broaden the level of public awareness and
participation;
6. Set up, and launched, a web -based forum to facilitate broad -based community dialogue
on the implementation activities that will allow for greater community participation
without having to attend meetings; and
7. Prioritized specific Actions in the plan for initial implementation activities. The top five
priority items for implementation determined by the AC are as follows:
a. Preparation of a County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan.
b. Establishing a hub and spoke transit system in Puna.
c. Upgrade wastewater disposal facilities in lower Puna with initial emphasis on the
Kapoho area.
d. Create the Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone (BRBZ) for the greater Volcano area.
e. Plan the Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR) through and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) and Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) that meets Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) standards and thereby qualify for federal funding
assistance for its design and construction.
PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE: SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Amendment Subcommittee: This subcommittee was tasked with identifying a process for the
review and evaluation of the Amendments to the PCDP proposed in Hawai`i County Council Bill
194. AC Members and participating Puna citizens of this subcommittee brainstormed on
strategies the AC should employ that would allow for broad -based community input and to
confirm, to the extent possible within the allotted time frame, the community sentiment towards
the amendments being proposed. To that end some Amendment Subcommittee members sought
out and met with several community groups seeking their opinions on the proposed amendments.
The subcommittee drafted recommendations on behalf of the AC for transmittal to the Planning
Director, which the AC approved on April 15, 2010. The AC letter of recommendations
regarding the proposed amendments was included with the Planning Director's recommendations
to the Hawai`i County Windward Planning Commission and County Council.
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MAlama I Ka 'Aina Subcommittee: Three identified Actions or projects in support of Actions
under the Historic, Cultural, and Scenic Resources and the Aquifers, Coastal Waters and
Stormwater sections were identified and recommended to the full AC as being either ripe for
implementation or of significant importance to warrant commencement of implementation
activity. These are as follows:
1. Upgrading wastewater disposal systems for the Kapoho area:
An ATG led by Barbara Bell has been working with residents in the Kapoho area
to upgrade the private wastewater disposal systems currently utilized in these residential
communities. Ms. Joy Gannon with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation
(RCAC) is assisting the community in a strategic planning process to determine how the
community might upgrade wastewater disposal in these subdivisions. The strategic
planning process has identified the need for at least four community meetings and is
being paid for through a grant from RCAC.
• Meeting #1 is planned for April 2011 and will provide an overview of the
problem and an introduction to options available for solutions.
• Meeting 2 will discuss options for solutions.
• Meeting 3 and 4 will set timelines, explore what is possible, and design a plan to
move forward.
2. Creating the Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone for the greater Volcano area:
This ATG is led by Tim Tunison and Dan Taylor and members of the Volcano
Community seeking the designation of Volcano, adjacent state -owned lands, and portions
of or all of neighboring subdivisions as an International Biosphere Reserve. This
designation would add to the existing Hawai`i Islands Biosphere Reserve granted in 1980
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that
includes the Volcano National Park. A UNESCO biosphere reserve serves to recognize
areas of significant biological and cultural value, and to demonstrate the willingness of
people living within the reserve to embrace a style of living that is biologically and
economically sustainable, and to demonstrate to local and international communities the
art of living harmoniously with the natural environment.
3. Establish a County Historic Preservation Commission:
Given that this specific action originally called for in the PCDP was removed as
one of the amendments contained in Ordinance 10 -104, no ATG has yet to form to
identify strategies to address the issues prompting the call for this Action by the Steering
Committee during the planning phase of the PCDP. However, there has been discussion
by the AC for the need to have the Hawai`i County Cultural Resources Commission
authorized by Ordinance 08 -42 amending Chapter 2, HCC, seated and staffed and
possibly the need for some amending provisions to the ordinance.
Transportation Subcommittee: With increasing traffic congestion on both the Kea`au -Pahoa
Road and Highway 11, the acknowledgement that three of the five most dangerous intersections
in the State of Hawai`i are on the Kea`au -Pahoa Road, and confirmation of the rapid rate of
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population growth in Puna by the U.S. Census 2010 population data showing an increase in
Puna's population to 39,522 people, transportation is a top priority. The recognized need to
implement the transportation options identified in the PCDP has led to activity by AC and
community members focused on several Actions related to mass transit and roadways each with
its own ATG. Wes Owens has been serving as the AC liaison to the Transportation
Subcommittee.
1. County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan:
The Transportation Subcommittee has been focusing on the need for increased
Hele -On bus service throughout the district, attempting to identify specific obstacles
preventing service over private subdivision roads, and a meaningful public input process
in the development of a County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan. Although there has been
an increase in the level of service in Puna since the adoption of the PCDP through the
addition of routes and frequency of runs in Puna, members of the community and the AC
have expressed a desire to see more progress in expansion of County transit services.
The ATG are willing to work with the Mass Transit Agency (MTA) at developing the
County -wide Mass Transit Master Plan as well as Hub -and Spoke System.
2. Develop Hubs within the Hub - and -Spoke System:
Some community participants in the Transportation Subcommittee have been
particularly interested in the implementation of the proposed hub - and -spoke system,
including the development of transit hubs called for in the PCDP. In 2010 the MTA was
awarded a federal grant of $350,000 to help implement a hub - and -spoke system in
Hawai`i County.
3. Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR):
The Planning and Public Works Departments have been taking steps to get the
PMAR project underway by:
• Getting funds appropriated in the Hawai`i County Capital Improvements
Project (CIP) budget to help fund the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the PMAR.
• Taking steps to getting the PMAR functionally classified as a major
collector so as to qualify for placement of the project on the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Projects (STIP) and federal funding for the
design and construction phases.
• Requesting release by the Governor of the $1.5 million in the State of
Hawai`i CIP budget appropriated for the PMAR EIS /PER.
• Developing and maintaining a Work Plan for the PMAR that suggests a
timeline and identifies specific tasks that need to be completed.
• Initiated steps to form an ATG consisting of stakeholders potentially
impacted by a new roadway in the Puna makai area that will attempt to
identify the level of support for the PMAR and specific public outreach
strategy recommendations to be employed in a Context Sensitive
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Solutions planning process for consideration by the County and the yet to
be selected EIS /PER consultants.
Managing Growth Subcommittee: Initially, Jeffrey Krepps and Larry Higgins accepted
responsibility as AC liaisons to the Managing Growth Subcommittee. Implementation activities
under the Managing Growth theme of the PCDP are concentrated in the Land Use Pattern and
Parks and Recreation sections of the PCDP. After the resignation of Larry Higgins from the AC,
Frank Commendador has volunteered do assist with the effort to implement the village center
concept.
1. Village and Town Centers:
Although little progress has been made to advance the process of implementing
the village center concept articulated in the PCDP, the AC has recognized its importance
and seeks more community participation to help identify strategies and opportunities for
local communities that may be ready to initiate master planning efforts. However, with
the current financial constraints in the County budget, funding has proven to be a
significant obstacle to initiating any master planning efforts. This is particularly
troublesome for the Pahoa Regional Town Center, since the Pahoa area has been
experiencing the most significant pressure for commercial and industrial growth over the
last several years.
Frank Commendador is seeking community participation in developing an ATG
to identify Actions in the PCDP that a community -based group can initiate in moving the
village center concept forward or that are critically necessary to that end.
The Planning Department is currently working with a consultant in developing a
Form -Based Code that is hoped to serve as an island -wide tool to guide the development
of livable and sustainable communities, including village centers.
2. Parks and Recreation:
Jeffery Krepps is seeking community participation in the forming of an ATG for
each of the following three park projects:
• Pahoa Regional Park;
• Cape Kumukahi; and
• Hawaiian Paradise Park Regional Park.
ACTION UPDATES
The Action Committee is not working in isolation to implement the Puna Community
Development Plan, and in reality, many of the Actions called for in the PCDP that have been
initiated or completed to date have occurred independent of any direct involvement by the AC.
The State of Hawai`i, the County of Hawai`i and other private or community groups have
engaged in a variety of projects either consistent with the goals and objectives of the PCDP or
specific Actions called for in the plan. The attached table is a listing of action items and an
update on their progress. Update items in blue type are directly attributable to the efforts and
activities of the AC.
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Puna Community Development Plan
Implementation Update
May 2011
Action Item Update
2.2.3 a. Enact a Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone • The AC ranked as a top five priority item.
(BRBZ), either separately or as an overlay district • Action Task Group (ATG) formed under
for the Volcano Area. Malama I Ka `Aina subcommittee
• ATG consulting with UNESCO & Volcanoes
NP.
• ATG considering BRBZ boundaries and input
from potentially impacted communities
2.3.3 e. In areas below 100 feet above Mean Sea • The AC ranked as a top five priority item.
Level, propose amendments to the applicable • ATG formed under Malama I Ka Aina
laws, ordinances and regulations that require all subcommittee to explore options to deal with
black wastewater disposal systems to be adverse impacts resulting from private waste -
contained, pumpable units or be connected to a water systems in Kapoho area subdivisions.
collective treatment facility.
3.1.3 b. Establish the following general • The County opened the new Pahoa police
classifications and locations for village and town station in February 2011, which offers
centers in Puna: driver's license renewal and vehicle
• Kea'au, Pahoa and Hawaiian Paradise Park registration services.
shall serve as Regional Town Centers to
provide a wide range of services for the Puna
district.
3.3.3 a. Develop a centrally located, 24 -hour, • Puna Community Medical Center, a non -
full- service medical facility, with trauma care, in profit, has opened in the Pahoa Marketplace.
Puna. Establish multiple level facilities offering • Kea'au Urgent Care clinic opened in Kea'au
primary medical and dental services in village village.
centers in Upper and Lower Puna. Expand
existing County - funded transportation service to
carry people from subdivisions to medical
facilities.
3.3.3 b. Establish "one- stop" social services • The Neighborhood Place of Puna opened their
assistance center at various locations. second site in Mountain View offering one-
stop access to a variety of social services.
3.3.3 c. Build partnerships between County and • HCBED offering savings accounts to
non - profit organizations for social services and students.
economic development • Puna Community Action Team providing
Ohana Family Fun Days at various locations
to bring social services and County program
information to each community.
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Action Item Update
3.4.3 a. Develop permanent fire stations ... • New County of Hawai`i fire station opened in
Pahoa.
• The Kilauea Military Camp fire station in
Volcanoes National Park acquired by the
County as a new permanent County fire
station.
3.4.3 f. Boost the Department of Environmental • DEM's plan for upgrading the Pahoa transfer
Management (DEM) recycling budget to develop station, including new recycling facilities,
an economy and to create more jobs related to approved and scheduled for construction.
recycling.
3.5.3 c. Improve and expand Community Parks as • Major expansion, including camping and
follows: restrooms at Pohoiki Park completed.
• Develop new Community Parks in various • Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Budget
locations. amended to include $5.5 million to plan,
• Pahoa Regional Park design and construct a new County park on a
• Convert the existing fire station into a one- 20 -acre site in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
stop community center providing, but not • The Department of Parks & Recreation has
limited to, a senior center with certified accepted the old Pahoa fire station for
kitchen for congregate meals program... conversion to a senior center. Facility
• Develop a new District Park on a 20 -acre site renovation is being facilitated through a
owned by Hawaiian Paradise Park... Government and community collaborative
• Provide accessibility, playground and other effort.
improvements at Mountain View Community • Mountain View's A.J. Watt Gym is scheduled
Park and A.J. Watt Gym. to reopen in the summer of 2011 with the
completion of the lead paint removal project
announced by the Department of Parks and
Recreation on 2/17/11.
4.2.3 a. Prepare a county -wide Transit Master • The AC ranked as a top five priority item.
Plan.
4.2.3 b. Improve transit service operations by: • Mass Transit Agency (MTA) added service in
• Adding two additional runs during peak Leilani Estates to Pahoa Route.
hours. • MTA has added 6 daily runs between Hilo &
• Demand responsive transit in subdivisions. Pahoa and 1 daily runs between Hilo and
• Commuter express services Pahoa to Hilo. Volcano. MTA added 2 additional Saturday
• Establish Hub - and -Spoke transit program. routes from Hilo and Pahoa and 6 routes from
Hilo and Volcano.
• Express services at 8:00 am Pahoa town direct
to Prince Kuhio Mall
• AC ranked establishing Hub -and Spoke as a
top five priority item.
4.2.3 d. Provide park- and -ride lots at various • Maku`u Farmers Market Park and Ride
locations. opened in July 2010.
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Action Item Update
4.3.3 a. Short Term (2008 -2012) • AC ranked as a top five priority item.
Plan and design PMAR alignment through and • County is working to have a Functional
Environmental Impact Statement... Classification Report completed for the
PMAR so that the project will qualify for
federal funding.
• County of Hawaii has requested Governor to
release State CIP funds for Environmental
Impact Statement & Preliminary Engineering
Report (EIS /PER).
• Directors for Department of Public Works
and Planning Department submitted request to
the Mayor for County CIP Budget
amendment to include $500,000 for EIS /PER.
• ATG will be formed to assess community
support for PMAR and public outreach
strategy recommendations for the EIS /PER
process to the County and consultants.
• County Council approved bond allocation
requested that included $500,000 for
EIS /PER.
4.4.3 a. Short Term (2008 -2012) • Kahakai Blvd. at the new Woodland Center
• Intersection Improvements on Hwy 11 & 130. has opened a right in and right out.
• Reduce speed limit on Highway 130 to 45 • Hawai`i State Department of Transportation
mph between Kea'au Bypass and `Ainaloa (HDOT) has identified Kahakai Blvd. &
Blvd. Hwy. 130 intersection for safety
• Conduct a study to determine the most improvements including possible construction
efficacious way to create greater highway of a roundabout.
safety. • HDOT has reduced the speed limit on Pahoa
• Implement the Shoulder Lane Conversion Bypass to 45 mph.
project. • HDOT has listed Kaloli Dr., Ochidland Dr.
and `Ainaloa Blvd. intersections on Hwy. 130
on the Statewide Transportation Improvement
Projects (STIP) list for interim safety
improvements.
• HDOT has announced intersection
improvements at Kulani Rd and Hwy 11.
• HDOT is nearing completion of a Context -
Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Kea`au -Pahoa Road
(Hwy 130) Improvement Project.
• EA for Shoulder Lane Conversion project
completed, design work is nearing completion
and construction is expected to begin in 2011.
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