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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0351.016 2016-2018 • e;S,Oc ,7' Wil Okabe •=`4 •V; \ Managing Director Harry Kim -+'.��� • Mayor Barbara J.Kossow +):0.61,.a.:. Deputy Managing Director • County of Hawai`i - Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawai'i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg,C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 October 5, 2017 C) Ms. Valerie Poindexter, Chair p cCD and Hawai'i County Council Members 1 --<-- 25 Aupuni Street o- c) Hilo, HI 9672:0 -74rn -73 Dear Ms. Poindexter & Council Members: RE: Ka'u Community Development Plan Ordinance I am writing to thank the Hawai'i County Council for their recent vote to approve the Ka'u Community Development Plan Ordinance. The Community Development Plan Program initiative has now resulted in five CDP Ordinances being adopted by the Hawai'i County Council. The Hamakua CDP has been completed and should come before the Council for adoption soon. These ordinances provide a practical tool box of policies to be used by government, legislators, planners, funders, landowners, and the community to better identify and prioritize ongoing as well as long range issues impacting the community quality of life in the districts. For many years, communities around the Island have asked for more influence in determining priorities unique to their region. At long last, the 2005 County General Plan provided for the adoption of Community Development Plans as ordinances. That same year Mayor Harry Kim directed his administration and departments to launch this ambitious and revolutionary Program that would establish a structure intended to decentralize the County's planning system. What makes the CDP Program revolutionary is that, working in partnership with the General Plan, it provides, for the first time, a degree of authority to local Community Development Plans, which may include legal policies as they apply to County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. I' Comm. No. 1(0 Ref.To: Ref. Dote FEB *,:1 201a October 5, 2017 Ka'u CDP Page 2 specific geographical areas. This is very different from Plans that were previously adopted by resolution, officially functioning as "guidelines". The very rapid growth and regional distribution of our population has resulted in changing conditions, needs and expectations as well as a wide diversification of economic activities and life styles around the island. The Community Development Plan Program provides the County government with the structure to proactively respond to this explosion in diversity of needs, challenges, opportunities, and quality of life that increasingly distinguishes one district from another around the island. Community Development Plan Program provides our communities with a framework and process to examine their core values; develop a vision for the future and identify policies necessary to achieve that vision for the overall district as well as for population centers within it. On Hawai'i island (it is the third largest in Polynesian, following the North Island and South Island of New Zealand), in order to make appropriate decisions for infrastructure and services, and to address issues ranging from housing needs, water resource distribution, open space and natural resource protection, growth management, sewage treatment, to multi-model transportation design, to public recreation, a regionally-centered, "bottom-up" planning process is necessary. The foundation for such an approach is the invitation to the community to plan strategically for the future, taking into account the social, cultural, economic, environmental and political realities of the region. Harry Kim made a progressive philosophical, financial, and administrative commitment to putting into motion the Community Development Plan Program over ten years ago. Now it is time for us to direct our collaborative efforts toward CDP implementation, to facilitate ongoing improvements to this new Program, and to retool our old government engine to incorporate this regionally- based Community Development Plan Program into the day-to-day operation of the County making it easier to administer. This pragmatic structure should incorporate the following: • The County General Plan continues to serve a very important role in identifying and coordinating the Island's collective visions, goals, and priorities. • Community Development Plans shall be consistent with the General Plan. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. October 5, 2017 Ka'u CDP Page 3 • Community Development Plans serve to translate the broad General Plan statements to more detailed policies and actions as they apply to the specific geographical areas. • The General Plan or Community Development Plans shall not take away property owners' existing entitlements. • Community Development Plans shall not contradict existing code or rules, but shall have the ability to enhance existing code or rules in order to provide more detailed implementation tools necessary to address conditions, needs, or opportunities unique to that planning area. In order to capture a community's visions, the existing Community Development Plans were products of intense public participation which, in itself was a wonderful, unprecedented accomplishment in this County. But if the program is not integrated within the operation of County government, the hundreds of people who volunteered years of hard work and dedication that was critical to the creation of each plan will look upon the process as a tragic breach of trust. From what I have heard from residents of this island over the years, there is wide-spread support for this process of participatory democracy intended to result in the drafting, adoption, and implementation of Community Development Plan Ordinances. This program is intended to improve the County's decision- making infrastructure that is necessary to address current realities and future challenges around Hawai'i Island. I hope that Councilmembers will continue to view this increase in regional empowerment as a wonderful opportunity to better serve Hawai'i Island. Sincerely, Ae/Deli i o Nancy Pisicchio Executive Assistant to the Mayor County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.