HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0352.009 2018-2020 P/Pa
6NM. 352
Ken Melrose
P.O. Box 109
Kealakekua, HI 96750
E-Mail: ken(o-).Primavera.farm
July 23, 2019
Subject: Bill 87, Amendments to the Kona CDP
C
Madam Chair and members of the Hawaii County Council,
My name is Ken Melrose and I reside in Kealakekua.
I am here today to ask for your approval of the package of amendments Wo
the Kona CDP, as presented. In doing so, I think some context is in order,
since by Charter term limits none of you on Council today were on the
Council when the Kona CDP was adopted in 2008.
When the General Plan as last updated in 2005, it included provisions to
create Regional Development plans. Kona was selected to be the first
district in that process, primarily as a result of the rapid growth from the late
1990's that was resulting in sprawl and the types of strains on public
infrastructure best represented by the picture of Kuakini Highway heading
south from Kam III, shown on page 4-5 of the Kona CDP.
A Steering Committee of a broad cross section of the community was
empaneled and a widest ever yet reach of public engagement began in late
2005. 1 served as the Chair of that Steering Committee through the crafting
and adoption of the Kona CDP in 2008. While Kona had been the first
district to be studied, soon each district wanted to move ahead at the same
time and the resources of the Planning Dept were stretched. As a result,
the public facilitation was managed through R & D with the passive
involvement and general oversight of the Planning Dept.
The broad Vision and Guiding Principles evolved early in the public
engagement process and those provided the framework for an aspiration of
Kona as a more concentrated, mixed use, walkable, more transit and less
automobile-oriented community. The Policies adopted in the Kona CDP
embraced the emerging concepts of complete streets with a greater
pedestrian orientation, with neighborhoods connected and infrastructure
built concurrent with growth. The Kona CDP created new cutting-edge
1 Comm. No 391.q
Ref. To: P Igo
Ref. Date JUL 2 2 2019
policies intended to enable such a Vision. The Kona CDP won national
recognition.
Then an Implementation, now Action, Committee was empaneled to help
guide bringing the Vision to reality. I served as the Chair of that initial
Action Committee. Early on it became highly apparent that these new
aspirational policies were running contrary to many existing codes and that
our just saying this is how we wanted it to be didn't change those codes.
The absence of the Financing Tools prevalent in other jurisdictions with
similar aspirations and the staunch resistance by previously unengaged
County agencies to embrace the new standards further complicated
implementation.
For 11 years since its adoption, I have remained engaged as a community
member as sub-committees of the Action Committee wrestled with a path
to connect the community aspirations and the realities of the County
Codes. It took a lawsuit and change of Administration to bring the Planning
Dept. to the full commitment to help rectify these conflicts so we can see
our way to the realization of the Vision of " A more sustainable Kona
characterized by a deep appreciation for culture and the environment
with residents that responsively and responsibly accommodate
change through an active and collaborative community".
The Planning Dept. fully engaged this time. They also reached out to the
other Departments to help align the policies with code realities. I applaud
them for this significant effort. Culture and the environment remain at the
forefront and policies are amended to unlock many of the impediments that
have held back forward progress.
I thank the Mayor's office, particularly Roy and Nancy, for bringing this
process forward and the Action Committee for their patient and careful
consideration.
I ask for your favorable consideration today to move this package of
amendments to the Kona CDP forward to adoption.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ken Melrose
2