HomeMy WebLinkAboutINDIVIDUAL COMMENT EMAIL - 128904Mori, Ashley
From:
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2019 3:00 PM
To:General Plan
Subject: General Plan
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Aloha Planning Department,
On page 30 ofthe draft Hawaii County General Plan 2020, the following language exists. D
36. 1.38 Amend Charter to revise land acquisition and preservation regulations and criteria (Forto
include lands impacted by climate change or those with beneficial attributes for climate adaptation
and mitigation.
This sentence actually contains two separate concepts. One I support and the other I don' t.
The first concept is the one I oppose: to "amend Charter to revise land acquisition and preservation regulations
and criteria (PONC) to include lands impacted by climate change..." PONC does not exist to acquire and
preserve lands impacted by climate change,just as it does not exist to preserve lands impacted by the volcanic
eruption. In 2019, there was an incident in which PONC was considering acquiring a parcel which had been
inundated by lava. There was a public outcry, and finally Mayor Kim pulled out of the transaction.
The purpose of the PONC fund is to purchase properties that can be enjoyed by the public as open spaces in
perpetuity. The purpose is not to purchase properties from people who own coastal real-estate that will soon be
underwater and un-usable.
The second concept in the current General Plan language I do spport, in that it serves the purpose ofthe PONC
fund while also serving the current dire need for meaningful climate action. That is the proposal to amend the
Charter to revise land acquisition and preservation regulations and criteria (PONC) to include lands "with
beneficial attributes for climate adpatation and mitigation." I support including this concept.
Aloha,
Honoka'a
128904
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