HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0088.041 1998-2000 0
HILO OUTDOOR CIRCLE P.O. BOX 5258 HILO, HAWAII 96720
March 5, 1999
' RECEIVED ''+
Moe __ BY .._. _--
Date_ 3 / 37 T 97
County Council /P -P G
To the Hawaii County Council:
On behalf of Na Leo Pohai, the public policy affiliate of the Outdoor Circle, we wish to
make five points with regard to Bill No. 250, Draft 9.
1. We enthusiastically commend the inclusion of Section 25-4 -59.3, Landscaping and
screening for parking lots and loading spaces, and hope that it will be vigilantly enforced.
2. Section 25 -2 -63 (a) repeals the provision for a contested case hearing when the
Planning Commission considers use permit applications. In our view, the provision should
be retained, because it is historically the means by which concerned citizens are able to
insist that the intent and integrity of the county's General Plan be maintained.
3. Former Section 25 -42, Shoreline setback regulations, has been deleted. We feel it
should be retained in order to preserve open space along our shorelines.
4. Section 25 -4 -12 permits telecommunication towers without regard to visual pollution
or the preservation of view planes and the aesthetic qualities of scenic areas. This is a
shocking oversight which must be corrected. Our county cannot allow a beautiful island,
which is both a visitor destination and the joy and pride of all who live here, to be
disfigured at random by the needs of the telecommunications industry.
5. In general, the new zoning code gives far too much power to the Planning Director and
the Planning Commission, mayoral appointees who are beyond the reach of the electorate.
The County Council, as the elected representatives of the people, ought in every instance
to guard zealously and to retain its authority to decide questions over the county General
Plan and all zoning ordinances. Land use decisions determine the quality of people's lives.
Both the people, and their elected representatives, have the right to full participation in
these decisions.
Thank you for your consideration of these remarks.
THE HILO OUTDOOR CIRCLE
Craig Smith, Co- President Q
Comm. No. v Q " • 4 i
File No. 2 N FicC
Ref. To: P resentn.s PL
Ref. Date I9AR 19999