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Home My WebLink About2020-07-01 Hawaii County General Plan Update - press release Harry Kim Michael Yee Mayor Director Roy Takemoto April Surprenant Acting Deputy Director Managing Director East Hawai‘i Office West Hawai‘i Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 County of Hawai‘i Phone (808) 961-8288 Phone (808) 323-4770 PLANNING DEPARTMENT Fax (808) 961-8742 Fax (808) 327-3563 July 1, 2020 NEWS RELEASE Hawaiʻi County General Plan 2040 Update Summary of Public Comment and Revised Timeline The Planning Department appreciates the communities and stakeholders that were part of the robust public outreach in 2019 on the Hawaiʻi County General Plan 2040 Update. A variety of community engagement activities produced valuable input that is actively shaping the next draft. Later this year Planning Department will conduct another round of public workshops, and I urge residents and stakeholders to be a part of this critical planning process. Hearing and listening to the many voices of our communities is integral to developing a General Plan that is reflective of the land use patterns which support a sustainable and thriving Hawaiʻi Island. Michael Yee Planning Director Outreach for Public Comment The General Plan 2040 strives to position Hawai‘i Island for economic progress while preserving the environment and strengthening community foundations. Given this strategic importance, the Planning Department performed community outreach during August – October 2019 to solicit public comment. Members of the public and several governmental agencies submitted comments in writing, and in-person remarks were captured during the following events, which presented key messages on goals, policies and actions for each section of the plan.  Speak-Out Events in large community venues (Hilo, Kona, Nāālehuʻ and Waimea).  Mini Speak-Out Events in smaller community venues (Captain Cook, Honoka‘a, Kailua-Kona, Kapaʻau, Panaewa, Pāhoa, Volcano Village and Waikoloa).  Community Group Presentations to the Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committees, the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, the Waimea www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@hawaiicounty.gov Hawai‘i County General Plan July 1, 2020 Page 2 Community Association, the Board of Water Supply, the Cultural Resource Commission, and the Environmental Management Commission.  Topic-Focused Workshops to provide focus on Economic Development, Infrastructure, Land Use and Natural Resources (Hilo, Kailua-Kona).  Coffee Hour Presentations to County and State governmental bodies. Summary of Public Comment Section of Plan (Total Comments/ Comment Themes Percent Prompting Revisions) Clarify GP authority, the future of CDPs, and relationships Introduction between County plans; Provide rationale for policies containing (47/100%) “shall” Natural Resource Clarify County’s role in planning and management Planning (679/23%) Align land use and infrastructure capacity; Add infrastructure Infrastructure maps; Planning (775/27%) Address deficiencies related to wastewater and solid waste Economic and Address food planning, aging-in-place, and changes in tourism; Opportunity Planning Identify locations of affordable housing (648/44%) Community Address deficiencies with historic preservation, access for Placemaking disabled persons, and restricted access to unique resources; (648/44%) Add trail maps; Clarify service levels for parks, fire, police Align land use with infrastructure capacity and Kona CDP; Clarify Land Use Planning definitions; Include hazards in land use mapping; Include (759/100%) rationale for land use designations, adding one for STVRs and revisiting Mahukona & Discovery Harbor Prioritize CIP projects; Expand funding/financing options; Implementation Address GP/budget relationship; Clarify implementation time (149/98%) frames and agency roles Miscellaneous Summarize what has changed from 2005 GP (244/99%) Revised Timeline of the General Plan Comprehensive Review The original timeline envisioned completion of the comprehensive review by end of calendar year 2020. Four factors have extended the timeline of the General Plan comprehensive review: 1) Higher than expected volume of public comments; 2) Hawai‘i County General Plan July 1, 2020 Page 3 Significant effort required to synchronize the General Plan with Kilauea Recovery planning and to update to the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan; 3) Re-deployment of some Long-Range Division staff to assist in processing Short-Term Vacation Rentals and resulting petitions to the Board of Appeals; and 4) Reduction in Long-Range Division staff capacity since March because of personal requirements for COVID-19 leave and transition to remote work. The following target dates are set for the remaining steps of the formal adoption process:  Public Workshops: December 2020/January 2021  Planning Commission Hearings: June 2021  County Council Hearings: September 2021 Updates to these target dates will be communicated on the General Plan website at https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/big-island-vision/community-planning/general- plan. For more information contact the Planning Department, County of Hawai‘i 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3; Hilo, HI 96720. Phone: (808) 961-8288. Email: generalplan@hawaiicounty.gov. Those interested in keeping current with upcoming events, progress, and process can sign up for General Plan eNews at https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/big-island- vision/community-planning/general-plan/connect.