HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-20 NKCDP Minutes DraftHarry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Michael Yee
Director
Duane Kanuha
Deputy Director
NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
Monday, May 20, 2019
Draft Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Jeff Coakley, called the North Kohala Community Development Plan (NKCDP) Action Committee
(AC) to order at 5:09 P.M. in the Hisaoka Gym Conference Room.
ROLL CALL
Action Committee Members Present: Jeff Coakley (Chair), Steve Hoffmann (Vice Chair), Benjamin Ney,
Chris Cackley, Jack Olson
Action Committee Members Absent -Excused: Lehua Ah Sam, Richard Elliott
Staff: CoH Planners: Bethany Morrison and Heather Bartlett
Members of the public: 8 Members of the public were in attendance.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: There were no additions to the meeting agenda.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: There were no announcements.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:
There was no testimony provided by members of the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Committee Member Coakley motioned to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2019 meeting, as
submitted. Seconded by Committee Member Benjamin Ney. The motion to approve the minutes as
submitted passed with 5 votes aye, 0 votes nay.
REPORTS AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Community Partner Group Reports:
1. Comm. No. 2019-13 NK Community Access Group Report 3/6 & 4/3: The group shared that
the DLNR budget item for a feasibility study for the Pololu trail and parking lot
improvement has been approved, and the PONC funds have been secured for Hapu'u
Kapanaia and negotiations for purchase are underway. The group suggested the public
check out the Rails to Trails project proposal that was presented at the March 18, 2019
North Kohala CDP Action Committee meeting.
To View Comm. No. 2019-13 NKC Access Group Notes 3/6 & 4/3 2019 use the following
link: http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/100168/Pagel.aspx
Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page I
2. Comm. No. 2019-14 Parks, Water, Roads Group Report: The group shared that landowners
have worked to clear portions of Pratt Road along their properties, and that the road is
almost clear with plans to finish the uncleared portions by the end of June, 2019.
Goodfellows Construction Co. has been awarded the contract for installation of the Hala'ula
well and that there will be meetings planned to speak with the residents most affected by
the construction of the well.
The Mahukona pavilion has been boarded up and is to be closed "indefinitely".
Residents were denied access via a private road through Kohala Ranch during an
emergency road closure on March 21. The group is looking into coordinating possible
future access for residents during times of emergency.
To view Comm. No. 2019-14 Parks, Water Roads Group report use the following link:
http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/100169/Pagel.aspx
3. Comm. No. 2019-15 Affordable Housing Group Meeting Notes: The group shared that
developers attended their meeting on May 15, 2019 to speak with the group about the
Hawi Nani affordable housing project. The group spoke to the project's architect to pitch
the idea of incorporating a "pocket neighborhood" concept as a part of their plans. The
groups also discussed ideas and plans for the proposed housing fair event the group has
been working to organize.
To view Comm. No. 2019-15 Affordable Housing Group meeting notes use the following
link: http://records.hawaiicountV.gov/Weblink/1/doc/100702/Pagel.aspx
BUSINESS: * NOTE* Per the discretion of the chair, agenda items were reviewed out of order from
the meeting agenda with the discussion of the brochure taking place as business item #1.
1. Progress update on the "Welcome to North Kohala" brochure: The Action Committee discussed
the brochure project that was intended to provide tips and information to new residents and
developers on living and building in the North Kohala community. Vice Chair Hoffman
expressed that the project has lost its priority for the committee and that the Action
Committee would like to move forward on progress for the project.
2. Discussion on the proposed Hawi Nani 201 H development and logistics of the 201H program:
Ms. Bethany Morrison provided a summary of the functions and process of the Hawai'i Revised
Statute 201H affordable housing program. She explained that 201H comes from state law and
serves as a tool to help provide affordable housing exemptions from county code. All 201H
affordable housing projects are reviewed by the County Department of Housing and
Community Development, and then forwarded for review by the County Council. County
council then reviews the project and votes to approve or deny the project.
3. Review discussion on community group structure and assignments: The Action Committee
discussed the current and desired role of the community groups and their relationship to the
Action Committee. Vice Chair Hoffmann advised the community groups to compile and report
back pertinent projects and information from their respective groups to the Action Committee
so that the committee can engage with the legislature to push on key concerns from each
www.hiplanningdept.com northkohala(dhawaiicounty.-ov Page 2
group. Mr. Hoffmann suggested that the chair of each community group have a discussion with
Chair Coakley to organize and prioritize projects to focus on for each group moving forward.
4. Discussion and planning exercise on Action Committee Priorities: The Action Committee
discussed the key priorities, affordable housing, infrastructure, agriculture & economic
development, and public access, that were set at the July 16, 2018 NKCDP Action Committee
meeting. The committee discussed various issues relating to the priority topics and possible
methods to move forward on projects that align with these priorities.
The Action Committee discussed the limitation of affordable housing options and other
opportunities for growth in the North Kohala community due to water and wastewater
limitations in the region. The group discussed researching various alternative methods for
dealing with and expanding the availability of wastewater services in North Kohala as a possible
solution to address the lack of affordable housing options, as opportunities to build additional
dwelling units that could serve as affordable housing options are prohibited due to the lack of
wastewater infrastructure.
The Action Committee discussed the need to increase community involvement in moving
projects forward as they have identified projects move along much more quickly when they
have substantial community involvement and support.
To view Comm. No. 2018-23 NKCDP Action Committee priority setting results use the following
link: http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/95635/Pagel.aspx
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: (July 15, 2019)
1. There were no agenda item suggestions from the Action Committee for the July 15, 2019
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:02 P.M.
All Action Committee information can be viewed and downloaded from our website:
http://www.hawaiicountvcdp.info/north-kohala-cdp
www.hiplanningdept.com northkohala(dhawaiicounty.zov Page 3