HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0153.017 2016-2018 tINCa_
C01140. 153
Murashige, Laura
From: Linda Penn <Ipennl@twc.com> COUNTY CLERK
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 11:38 AM COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
To: Council Testimony RECEIVED
Tirtte
Subject: Resolution 109-17 Date
Dear Council members,
This is a heads up on resolution 109-17 submitted by cm Ruggles to be heard
Wednesday, March 22, 2017. I am extremely concerned about this Resolution, which I
hope you will not support. This resolution is NOT in support of sustainability, it is in
support of HB873, a dead bill. If you look at HB873 carefully to see all the potential
negative impacts on our community, you may not want to vote in favor of this
resolution.
House Bill 873 (and supporting resolution 109-17) could create hell on earth for us
in HPP and other agriculturally zoned subdivisions.
This bill would allow "sustainable" developers to build stores, roads, restaurants,
wind generators, pig farms, Geothermal resource development and more all under the
guise of "research". Oversite would consist of ONLY one vague report a year to the
planning commission without any required testing of the soil, air, and water around the
research site. There was also no mention of buffer zones or sunset clauses making it
forever research without proper testing.
This bill (and thus resolution 109-17) BYPASSES the SUP process and denies
neighbors the right to object or even have a say about what commercial or industrial
operations might occur in our agricultural subdivisions. The appeal process ONLY is
possible after a "research" site is established. This would have been State law, which
would supersede any County or Association rules!
I support commercial enterprises in commercial zones but NOT IN RURAL AREAS
without County oversite. Kauai has said NO WAY to HB873. Hopefully the Hawaii .
county council will reject Resolution 109-17 that supports that crazy bill.
This email is really the tip of the iceberg with regards to the "Sustainable Living
Research Site" Bill history and all of the dark, convoluted methodology that has taken
place since it was first introduced in 2013. There have been three attempts to pass the
same bill. The first time in 2013 it came in as HB111, then in 2014 it was SB2274 and
. its latest incarnation (with virtually no amendments) was HB873. Each time these bills
have never made it out of committee onto the floor. These bills were defeated by
numerous people speaking up in opposition and various legislators who were
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concerned by some of its contents. If you are interested in the backstory, you can
contact me.
I understand that people are starved for "sustainability" legislation but resolution
109-17 calls for support of HB873, which is anything but sustainable. We must be
vigilant to not support legislation just because it uses the word "sustainable" in the title.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Penn,
A concerned citizen
representing other concerned citizens
(808) 982-7107
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