Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutProposed amendment PC Rule 8 & 9 C. Harden Testimony 05.29.23 From: Cory Sent: Monday, May 29, 2023 12:38 PM To: WPCtestimony Subject: for June 2 WPC & LPC Attachments: temp 2023 6-2 shoreline.docx attachment is identical comments for agenda item 1 for Joint Public Meeting and Hearing of Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions 9 AM Friday,June 2, 2023, Hawai'i County Council Chambers and ICT from Cory Harden Item 1 info https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=122851&row=1&dbid=l Background and Recommendation https://records.hawaiicounty.qov/WebLink/1/doc/122981/Pagel.aspx Thank you for your volunteer service. Unfortunately, I had trouble getting information about this issue. I didn't know about this meeting till a friend told me. I'm not getting e-mail meeting notices, despite repeated contacts with Planning Department and the Mayor's office. I checked the boards and commissions website, but it did not show this meeting (till I asked)so I assumed the issue had been postponed. Then it took half on hour to figure out that Planning Department rules and Planning Commission had different rules, and find up-to-date versions. Links to those rules would have helped. Page numbers below are from Department Background and Recommendation https://records.howoiicoun ty.qov/WebLink/1/doc/122981/Poge1.ospx I support these as protective of the environment ...removes a proposed provision to allow for a waiver of a public hearing provided no person or agency has requested a public hearing within twenty-five calendar days p. 1 ...removes the word"sand"from shoreline hardening along beaches. p. 1 ...other structures or activities (other than structures and activities listed in Planning Department Rule 11-7)will need to go before the Planning Commission at a public hearing in order to secure a Shoreline Setback Variance p. 2 Adding "sea level rise"to the "coastal hazards"definition pp. 18, 31, 59 Including construction of a single-family residence on a shoreline parcel as "development" pp. 31, 33 I have concerns about these c) Public Interest Standard. A variance may also be granted, provided that the proposal is the practicable alternative which best conforms to the purpose of this rule, and upon a finding that, based upon the record, the proposed structure or activity is necessary for or ancillary to: 1) Facilities or improvements by public agencies or public utilities regulated under Chapter 269, HRS, 2) Private facilities or improvements that are clearly in the public interest p. 25 1 This seems overly brood. Archaeological Resources p. 45 1 support the most protective measures archaeological inventory report "no-effect"letter from DLNR. 1 do not support the proposed "assessment prepared by o licensed archaeologist'; since it would not hove to follow DLNR rules. 1 do not support o letter claiming no historic sites. Who would check up on what it claimed? We've lost enough already.Just drawing on my own limited experience- 1 was digging in the sand of Woipio when 1 was about 10 years old, and dug up o skull. My mother told me to just leove it. 1 don't know what happened to it. My sister went on on archaeological trip to Ko Lae in the 1950s, when she was o teenager. The person in charge directed her to go into o tunnel and pull out some bones. She doesn't know where they were token. She remembers getting sick afterward. I've been told there ore burial coves in the impact area of Pohokuloo. But the Army refuses to go in and look, and just keeps bombing there. Many significant artifacts were probably destroyed before any protective lows were passed. And illegal destruction still happened afterwards, to this day. " Rebuild" means the reconstruction of a lawfully existing structure when the reconstruction is valued by a licensed professional engineer or architect at more than fifty percent of the replacement cost of the structure p. 59 What's to prevent someone from doing multiple projects of just below fifty percent? A setback variance may be granted for a structure or activity otherwise prohibited in this rule if it is necessary and ancillary to the uses and activities listed in Planning Commission Rule 8 (Shoreline Setback Variance, Section 8- 11.) p. 61 Does this reduce oversight by the Planning Commission? The mining or taking of sand, dead coral or coral rubble, rocks, soil or other beach or marine deposits (such as driftwood, shells, beach glass, glass floats, or seaweed)from the shoreline setback area, ip of Rr Restore the deleted words to increase protection of resources. 2 comments for agenda item 1 for Joint Public Meeting and Hearing of Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions 9 AM Friday,June 2, 2023, Hawai'i County Council Chambers and ICT from Cory Harden Item 1 info https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/Browse.ospx?stortid=122851&row=1&dbid=l Background and Recommendation https://records.howoiicounty.gov/WebLink/1/doc/122981/Pogel.ospx Thank you for your volunteer service. Unfortunately, I had trouble getting information about this issue. I didn't know about this meeting till a friend told me. I'm not getting e-mail meeting notices, despite repeated contacts with Planning Department and the Mayor's office. I checked the boards and commissions website, but it did not show this meeting (till I asked)so I assumed the issue had been postponed. Then it took half on hour to figure out that Planning Department rules and Planning Commission had different rules, and find up-to-date versions. Links to those rules would have helped. Page numbers below are from Department Background and Recommendation h ttps://reco rds.h o woiico un ty.g o v/Web Link/1/doc/122981/Pog e1.ospx I support these as protective of the environment ...removes a proposed provision to allow for a waiver of a public hearing provided no person or agency has requested a public hearing within twenty-five calendar days p. 1 ...removes the word"sand"from shoreline hardening along beaches. p. 1 ...other structures or activities (other than structures and activities listed in Planning Department Rule 11-7)will need to go before the Planning Commission at a public hearing in order to secure a Shoreline Setback Variance p. 2 Adding "sea level rise"to the "coastal hazards"definition pp. 18, 31, 59 Including construction of a single-family residence on a shoreline parcel as "development" pp. 31, 33 1 have concerns about these c) Public Interest Standard. A variance may also be granted, provided that the proposal is the practicable alternative which best conforms to the purpose of this rule, and upon a finding that, based upon the record,the proposed structure or activity is necessary for or ancillary to: 1) Facilities or improvements by public agencies or public utilities regulated under Chapter 269, H RS, 2) Private facilities or improvements that are clearly in the public interest p. 25 This seems overly broad. Archaeological Resources p. 45 I support the most protective measures archaeological inventory report "no-effect"letter from DLNR. I do not support the proposed "assessment prepared by o licensed archaeologist'; since it would not hove to follow DLNR rules. 1 do not support o letter claiming no historic sites. Who would check up on what it claimed? We've lost enough already.Just drawing on my own limited experience- 1 was digging in the sand of Woipio when 1 was about 10 years old, and dug up o skull. My mother told me to just leove it. 1 don't know what happened to it. My sister went on on archaeological trip to Ko Lae in the 1950s, when she was o teenager. The person in charge directed her to go into o tunnel and pull out some bones. She doesn't know where they were token. She remembers getting sick afterward. I've been told there ore burial coves in the impact area of Pohokuloo. But the Army refuses to go in and look, and just keeps bombing there. Many signifi'cont artifacts were probably destroyed before any protective lows were passed.And illegal destruction still happened afterwards, to this day. " Rebuild" means the reconstruction of a lawfully existing structure when the reconstruction is valued by a licensed professional engineer or architect at more than fifty percent of the replacement cost of the structure p. 59 What's to prevent someone from doing multiple projects of just below fifty percent? A setback variance may be granted for a structure or activity otherwise prohibited in this rule if it is necessary and ancillary to the uses and activities listed in Planning Commission Rule 8 (Shoreline Setback Variance, Section 8- 11.) p. 61 Does this reduce oversight by the Planning Commission? The mining or taking of sand, dead coral or coral rubble, rocks, soil or other beach or marine deposits (such as driftwood, shells, beach glass, glass floats, or seaweed)from the shoreline setback area, [ ^ 8,f 8Re-08' se^ PeF, @Y] f8F FeaseRable, PeFseRa4, 11 , p. 62 Restore the deleted words to increase protection of resources.