HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0070.002 2014-2016support for Bill 281 to revise Planned Unit Development (PUD) regulations
for Hawaii County Council Planning Committee, 9:45 AM Tuesday. February 3, 2015, Hilo chambers
from Cory Harden, Box 10265, Hilo, Hawaii 96721 808-959-7747 333cory agaiail_corn
Thank you to Karen Eoff for introducing this bill six months ago.
My only concern is the automatic approval if a PUD application is not processed by the deadline. Please
consider changing this to automatic denial.
PUD revisions are sorely needed. A PUD almost destroyed a pristine native forest at Waikaku'u in Kona
a few years ago. That forest is probably hundreds of years old, hosting one'ohi'a over a hundred feet tall.
The understory has numerous native plants. Native birds chirp almost constantly in the treetops. The
endangered i'o (Hawiian hawk) and ope'ape'a (Hawaiian hoary bat) have been seen. Kupuna from the
area say there are many burials.
But a PUD was approved that would have chopped down almost every tree.
Waikaku'u was only saved because citizens went to great expense to hire a lawyer, and put many hours
into publicizing the issue and attending County meetings. Finally a judge found that the County had failed
in its duty to protect natural resources and had violated the Kona Community Development Plan.
And other PUDs, similarly approved by the planning director and Board of Appeals, were recently
overturned in court.
Bill 281 provides badly needed protections for our land and increases public involvement. Bill 281:
• allows contested case proceedings
• requires public hearings
• requires approval by the Planning Commission, not just the Planning Director
• requires compliance with Community Development Plans
• allows 150 days to consider a PUD, versus the current 60 days
• changes appeals from the Board of Appeals to the Third Circuit Court
• disallows partial approvals
Mahalo for your consideration- -
Comm. No �. Z
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