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Home My WebLink AboutINDIVIDUAL COMMENT EMAIL - 129227Why the resort designation at Mahukona should be removed from the map:., The North..Kohala Community Development Plan calls for the purchase of four coastal properties, includingthe land. between Mahukona and Kapa'a Parks for public use with the 2% Open Spae: NKCDP Strategy 1.2: Acquire coastal lands that should be preserved as s open space (page 29). Key Purchases to Preserve the North Kohala - Coast-Kukuipahu,.MAHUi ONA, Pao'o and Kaihalena. (page 31) 73 The.Long-range VISION and overall.GOAL of the NKCDP is To mane the futu.re growth of the districtin a manner that-is consistent with the = _L Kohala lifestyle and ideals of being a rural community with a strong u co cultural heritage,-an agricultural base, and a small town feel." (page 1) The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources,Commission PONC) has listed the,lands between the two parks high on its annual list of priority purchases using the Open Space Fund for 12 years. PRIORITY#4 MAHUKONA-Anticipated Use: Expansion and enhancement of two County beach,park facilities by Protecting important ocean access Expanding recreational opportunities for hiking; picnicking, and camping Provide areas for subsistence fishing and shoreline gathering Protecting natural, cultural, and historic resources Providing open space protection of the shoreline Enhancing the small boat launching possibilities SIGINIFICANCE: Identified in General Pian(2005)as an important area for protection (Natural Beauty 7.5.5) , Identified in the North Kohala Community Development Plan 2008) as an important area for protection (Strategy 1.2 Acquire coastal lands that should be preserved as open space.) Significant and high concentration of cultural and historic sites Protection-of theintegrity of this historic and openspace corridor along the:Kohala coastline It is the onlysmallboat launching area in North Kohala High community support (PONC Annual Report to the Mayor, December 31, 2018 -pages 16 and 17) Wording in the new General Plan is so coastal friendly°.it.would prohibit building a resortand gated community at Mahukona if the owner were to apply for the designation today. 129227 547. Prioritize the rehabilitation and utilization of designated resort areassthat are presently serviced by basic facilities and utilities before allowing new resorts in undeveloped coastal areas. [Rationale: Based on General Plan Policy 14.7.3 (c)and Ka'u CDP Policy 5.] Purpose of the General Plan (page 10) Promotes and safeguards the public interest and the-interestof the-County as a whole.2 fici{itates the democratic-determination of. community policies•concerning the utilization of its natural, man-made,and human resources. Urban.development.plans are.a,means ofimplementing the policies and objectives of the General Plan and/or Community Development Plans within towns,villages,and other areas of existing urban development or within areas specifically intended for new or more intensified urban development. They shall be consistent with and implement the visions,objectives and policies of the General Plan and applicable Community Development Plans.(Page-12) COASTAL HABITAT PROTECTION:Maintain a program for acquiring undisturbed shoreline resource areas. [Rationale: Based on Charter Section,10-15 PONC;General Plan 2005 12.3 (k)](page 29) 390. Prioritize maintenance and necessary improvements at existing park facilities over developing new park facilities within each district(this does not preclude accepting lands for future-park development or acqui-ring-properties for the intent of preserving open space,scenic areas, natural hazard areas,or cultural/historic areas from development). [Rationale: Based°on-consultation with Parks and Recreation Department and inrecognition..of the challenges in maintaining the parks.lands currently in the County inventory.See also General Plan 12.3 (q).](page 106), 453. Do not allow incompatible development in areas of natural beauty that have been identified through the Scenic Resources Protection Program. [Rationale: Based on an identified need to identify natural beauty areas through scenic resource protection program and restrict development appropriately to ensure scenic resources.are not lost to development. Based also onGeneral-P1an.policies7.3(h,i).](page123) 455. Hawaii'County shall seek to:minimize,any development which.would substantially interfere with or detract from the line of site toward the sea from the State highway nearest the coast. [Rationale: Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 35, Ka'u CDP Policy 54, General Plan policy 7.2(b)and 7.3 (f).], The County shall reevaluate projects for'consistencywith the•General Plan and applicable Community Development Plans during review of time extension requests for discretionary,approvals. [Rationale: Based.on consultation with Planning Division staff regarding.sssues with approved project proposals that remain undeveloped and are allowed to retain entitlements in perpetuity that were approved for a specific project and specific circumstances. At times,this may'tie up' infrastructure commitments that aren't being used, it can impact desired density for land use areas,and it has been used as a speculative real estate:strategy to resect the undeveloped-property with the enhanced entitlements.See also Maui County Planning Corn missionChapter 202Special Management Area Rules-.](Page 128)Note:Fund?ngforimprovements torMahukoncrand Kapa'a Parks, and-Mahukona-Road; named as CP conditions ofre-zoning and.SMA at Mahukona have been held up for 30 years,so parks have deteriorated to the point that the pavilion at Mahukona was condemned, with no existing plans orfunds to replace it.) 472.The Urban Growth Areas shall have a regulatory boundary that is intended to separate land uses from Agriculture or Rural. Areas that are clearly beyond the designate&Urban Growth'boundaries shaif be preserved as Rttra or Agricultural'Pands'to maintain open space,scenic view planes,and natural beautyareas.[Rationale:Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 5] [Agriculture] (page 130) 565: Designate agricultural-lands as areas to,be preserved=foragricultu-re and open space and protected from urban encroachment. (page 147) 568. Discourage speculative residential development on agricultural lands.(page 147) 575. General Plan Natural designations shall include:a)Steep slopes b) Natural Areas and Reserves c)Open Space'Recreation Areas d)Scenic Vistas and Viewptanes e)Areas setaside for:cultural-and/or natural,resource preservation purposes [Rationale: Based ton<General Plan Standards 14.8.4.].(page 150) 5.38identify-high-priority areas for acquisition (page 151) 5.39 Identify and secure in public trust(fee simple or by easement) priority lands that achieve community objectives: a)Seek to use conservation easement or acquisition opportunities through funding sources such as PONC,etc.,once critical habitat areas are identified as priorities to protect.b)'Seek to protect with easementsoracquire suitable important-coastal lands that would protect viewsheds, provide the public with access to scenic viewingareas,or otherwise promote appropriate coastal recreation and subsistence.(page 151) 582. New urban designations shall be located away from coastal areas and the Special Management Area. Policy 27(page 152) 585. Designate coastal areas to be preserved, protected, and connected to the rich network of natural and cultural resources.'(page 152),Note:,Matrukormlands.have 175 klentifiedhistaric sites,4 beiau,23 burial sites'and nurneraus,ahu and shrines) 5.45 To further protect=coastal resources in the Special ManagementArea, review SMA boundaries and initiate appropriate amendments to:further protect known recreational, historic,open space,ecosystem, beach, near-shore riparian,and/or marine resources as well as scenic views toward the coastline from the highway; a)Consider proximity to the coastline and assess vulnerabilities to coastal changes; b)Consider including within the SMA boundaries appropriate near-shore riparian'corridors.(page 153)\ REVISIONS FROM THE 2005 GENERAL PLAN LUPAG must be,guided by: (page:159) Does Mahukona Resort conform? Align with adopted CDPs NO Accommodate projected population growth NO Align with infrast'rui irre—Potable Water N'O Align with infrastructure— Roadway Network NO Align with infrastructure—Wastewater NO Ensure that commercial designations are appropriate NO Minimize new coastal development NO Minimize encroachment onto agricultural lands NO Align with StateLand Use District Boundary Yes: Align with County zoning NO 4 4'i in9 NI111 q Pfri 2 M8 i•{ 1[NTNT 1 ---- — s 9 0 01 o 4::. 1;t.) — ,...--• o 0-- c•••• ta. S. • 1,..„..I 1.., 1.4- Ir4 i 44- 4- ,.... 1''.. VI j„ S 4.?.?AA0 \ •,.. at N 4. %, 1,... 0 ‘-%1 • , x 4