HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0088.012 1998-2000 01/01/1596 00:01 808965120 FPGE :2
F riends of the Red Road
P.O. Box 1610, Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
Phone: (808) 965 -8183 Fax. (808) 965.1220 (phone first)
kehena@aloha, net -.
TG All Council Members
'99 FLEE 16 fir o 't;
County Council, Hawaii County . -
FROM: Athena Peanut, President CG
DATE: February 15, 1999
RE: Rapid Ratification Plan of Bill 250, Zoning Code
Public Testimony
We urge the County Council to reject the proposed rapid ratification
of Bill 250 as proposed by the Planning Coinmittee for the following
reasons:
1. This action would continue to violate the intention of the Sunshine
Law that the public be fully informed of the proposed zoning changes and
would only be subject to further legal challenges in the court.
2. The law of the land and interests of the people are not served
by rapid ratification of the already tainted zoning code revisions. To
suggest that the Council merely rubber stamp the document in 33 days will
only serve the special interests of a few.
3. The people of this county are entitled to the careful review and
public scrutiny process as provided by law as illustrated by Judge lbarra's
recent decision upholding the Sunshine Law.
There is no possible way that the public can review and assess the
several hundred page document provided in the public libraries and be
ready for detailed testimony in the hearings scheduled this week. It
would take one intelligent person a few days of careful reading during
library hours to absorb and to understand the information to comment
intelligently on the many items. It is the duty of the County to present this
information to the public with enough clarity that it can be understood by
everyone. This process was not followed in the past as illustrated by the
recent ruling of Judge Ibarra upholding the Sunshine Law. It appears that
the County is willing to risk further legal challenges rather than comply
with the intent of the law requiring careful scrutiny and public review.
Comm. No. 3 - - f 2
File No. N « /ZN6
Ref. To; CGUNG
Ref. Date FER 1 R IQ49
OIL 01/1356 00:01 8389551228 PAGE., .03
County Council, 1301 250
Public Testimony - 2/ 14/ 99
Page 2
The Court gave the Council eight months to adopt a zoning code. A
comprehensive review can be accomplished easily within this time limit. A
32 -Day Wonder Zoning Code Revision is definitely not what the Court
had in mind. While a few may be inconvenienced careful review serves
the interests of all the citizens of this County.
We respectfully urge the Council to reject the 32 -day rapid
ratification of Bill 250.
Respectfully submitted,
Athena Peanut, President
Friends of the Red Road