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Home My WebLink About2023-11-08 HCDP Meeting PacketMitchell D. Roth Mayor Lee E. Lord Managing Director Zendo Kern Director Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT HĀMĀKUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1 Wednesday, September 13, 2023 1 DRAFT Meeting Minutes 2 CALL TO ORDER 3 Chair Tawn Keeney called the Hāmākua Community Development Plan (HCDP) Action 4 Committee (AC) to order at 5:36 P.M. Quorum was at this time. This meeting was held online 5 via Zoom, and in‐person at the Laupāhoehoe Public Library. 6 ROLL CALL 7 AC Members Present: Tawn Keeney, Nicolette (Niki) Hubbard, Brad Kurokawa, Robert 8 Nishimoto, Tisha Mahealani, Richard Bidleman 9 AC Members Absent: Desiree Cruz and Crystal Kua 10 AC Members Absent and Excused: Robert Nishimoto 11 County Staff: April Surprenant, Maryam Palma, Kim Tanaka 12 County Officials: Deputy Corporation Counsel, Sinclair Salas‐Ferguson 13 ANNOUNCEMENTS: 14  Hāmākua CDP Action Committee New Member Update: Chair Keeney introduced the new 15 AC Members Tisha Mahealani and Richard Bidleman 16 PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: 17 1. Two member of the public provided oral testimony: 18 Cory Harden of West Sierra club talking about Agenda Item #3, they noted that email 19 addresses not on the website are indicative of a bigger problem: no transparency. In addition, 20 planning presentations that have been done by the County eat up time with no chance for ppl 21 to ask questions. County has development proposals that the Action Committee does not get 22 to review. County can find staff to review and update the zoning codes including the 23 Subdivision Code and General Plan. Action Committee should be providing ongoing guidance 24 and oversight. 25 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 2 Koohan Paik‐Mander also talked about Agenda Item #3, and seconded Cory Harden. They 26 indicated there is more time needed to input. Especially since community development is 27 moving so fast going 4x the rate of Maui. CDP interface with the public that took 10 years. 28 Email addresses not on the website is a negative thing as things (larger plans) are pushed 29 through at a rapid pace. 30 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 31 This item was taken out of order, immediately following Agenda Item #2. 32 Chair Keeney motioned to approve the March 21, 2023, April 12, 2023, and May 10, 2023 33 minutes. Seconded by Brad. Motion passed unanimously with a voice vote (6‐0). 34 BUSINESS: 35 1. Hāmākua Wildfire Preparedness: 36 Nani Barretto of Hawaiʻi Wildﬁre Management Organization did a Wildfire Management Plan 37 Presentation. Included in the information was a brief history of the organization which is a 38 nonprofit and not a government entity that has been around for 20 years in Waimea. Where 39 they are trying to understand risks, resources, and plans for the last 20 years. Many have not 40 considered wildfire as something to think about. But they are focused on fire mitigation in 41 close partnership with Civil Defense partners and Firefighters. They know that they can 42 change the path of a wildfire by managing lands and yards. Can also build and retrofit 43 residences to reduce the risk of fire losses. Consider firefighting to be the last line of defense 44 with the first line being to be prepared and mitigate risk. A large team of partners that work 45 alongside. Presentation CWPP is the County Wildfire Preparedness Plan. Put together by 46 team to protect life, property, and infrastructure. Prioritize the projects and establish a 47 pathway for funding and collaboration and communication. Hawaii Wildfire was tasked one 48 year ago to develop the plan. Had a meeting to establish areas of interest and actions needed 49 (Summary Sheet HERE). Included in the presentation was information on the Community 50 Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program passed in 2022 funding for at‐risk low if the program 51 has been identified in the document as eligible if there is an entity that wants to develop a 52 program. Round 2 application ends on October 31 but 3 more rounds in the future. She 53 wants to share some resources. Wildfire & Drought LOOKOUT! campaign (Webpage HERE) 54 gets launched every year to educate people about what they can do to prepare. Another 55 thing is a resident handbook called Hawaiʻi’s Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire AcƟon Guide which 56 is a one stop resource for residents and visitors to know to be prepared for a Fire. (Download 57 HERE) Another resource is a Nationally recognized Firewise USA program that recognizes 58 neighborhoods that are working towards raising awareness and readying their homes and 59 yards in their neighborhoods (Download HERE). Please go to the website to see if your 60 community has an established Firewise program. If you don’t live in a Firewise neighborhood, 61 then find some neighbors and see how you can use the resources to establish your Firewise 62 Program. There was one in the Hāmākua area previously, but it never got traction. Primary 63 information ambassadors are trained in the area, and they can share the available resources 64 including a free home assessment. If you are interested in the program, please reach out and 65 you can get more detail. (Webpage HERE) for free assessment. Pacific fire exchange is a 66 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 3 research program for large landowners, landscapers, educators, and exchanges. (Website 67 HERE). Hawai'i Wildfire Management Organization has been invited to various areas and are 68 always ‐ survey (LINK) if you have comments or to share your wildfire concerns, priorities, or 69 shovel‐ready project ideas go HERE. Also subscribe to our newsletters to keep up to date with 70 upcoming workshops, new resources, etc. HERE. I am a co‐director, and we can be reached 71 collectively at directors@hawaiiwildfire.org 72 Q: Is your org a 501 (c) 3. A: Yes 73 Q: How do you get most of your funding A: Most is from federal grants, also chili cookoff and 74 t‐shirt sales. 75 Q: How many ppl? A: We have a staff of 8 but are working to staff up as our team is stretched 76 thin 77 Q: Tawn: What is the next step with the current great interest? We have discussed a meeting 78 with Honoka`a where much will be done. As there will be 5‐6 other communities that may be 79 interested. What is the best next step for AC members to intersect? A: The Firewise program 80 has a good framework as this connects the communities with the officials and firefighters. As 81 residents we need to know how to start with our home. This is a group of people talking 82 about it regularly and keeps people action oriented. Next step we could have a meeting that 83 is just about the Firewise program so neighborhoods could become more active. 84 Q: In your group of organizations of interest you did not mention Kamehameha Schools. Are 85 we wrong that the Eucalyptus trees are a risk? How is KS involved? A: Unmanaged lands and 86 unmanaged fuels during a dry period (even on the wet side are at risk). Also, firefighting 87 resources are stretched thin. 88 Q: Tawn: have you been in contact with KS. A: Not a lot. Some residents were nervous and 89 allowed us access to the area to use FEMA funds to cut some back. 90 Q: Tawn: Are you hopeful for conversations? A: Yes, I am always hopeful as relationships are 91 the most important. No real answer when it comes to the human connection and 92 personalities, but we have seen it before. 93 Q: Michelle: I was wondering if you are cool with me networking and sending out the links. 94 Especially because we do a lot of events in Honoka`a. A: Of course, because people are 95 scared and if you have ideas we would love to connect. 96 Q: Nikki: Is the right document to share the first document? A: Within the month we will have 97 a final draft. 98 Q: How will we get the final A: Nani will send the final to Tawn. 99 Q: What do the grants fund? A: Education and outreach. Mitigation. Health system 100 restoration. Field reduction and field management. Converting fire prone invasive landscapes 101 to more drought tolerant. 102 Q: In Honokaa the vegetation on the West side, Eucalyptus, is a huge fire issue since it is about 103 the size of Oahu. Is this an entry with KS to get grants to mitigate fire hazard and trees. A: 104 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 4 Field management entities are eligible, but I heard that KS would not be interested in Federal 105 funds. 106 Comment: County needs to interface with KS and maybe can be invited to a meeting. 107 Comment: Richard came across a Big Island News Now article, it is incumbent on the County 108 to develop the rules. It should be the County to go after grants and take care of our 109 landscape. Doesn't want to rely on a non‐profit to take care of this problem. 110 2. Governor’s Housing Proclamation Discussion 111 Chair Tawn Keeney made a motion that the personal letter that he wrote to Nani Medeiros be 112 endorsed by the Hāmākua CDP as a statement representing their views, on developments be 113 brought to the CDP. Brad seconded the Motion. Letter was read aloud (LINK) Discussion: 114 Richard Bidleman. New to Honoka’a in a brand‐new subdivision and many places are 115 becoming urban. Many may not like that but it’s reality. Preserving the historical nature is 116 important but things are going to become more urban. Brad Kurokawa asked if we are 117 assuming that the Emergency Proclamation may supersede the current lines of 118 communication so believes an official request should be there. Currently the developer is 119 under no obligation to talk with the community and/or the CDP. Would like the Action 120 Committee to be included in this communication stream. Heather Kimball: Housing Officer 121 Nani Medieros will resign, and the Emergency Order is temporary and may not be re‐issued. 122 Tawn would like to call for a vote on the motion. Brad‐Aye Robert‐Aye Nikki‐Aye Tisha‐Aye 123 Richard‐Aye Tawn‐Aye. Motion passed unanimously with a voice vote (6‐0). 124 Q: Jack Vicory, can we add in the letter a return receipt? A: Yes. 125 3. Action Committee Email Addresses on the Hāmākua CDP Website 126 Chair Tawn Keeney made a motion that the email address that has been removed from the 127 Hāmākua CDP website be restored and in addition, that there is a restoration of the Chair and 128 Agenda, Date and Time or the upcoming meeting of the Action Committees. Tisha seconded 129 for the discussion. Discussion centered around concerns about the accessibility of the email. 130 Sinclair ‐ Planning Department Rep stated that the agenda is posted on the website and there 131 is a fact sheet for Chair, personal privacy information including email address is not usually 132 posted as it is considered private. However, if the Board agrees individually email addresses 133 can be posted by the Planning Department. April confirmed that the Planning Dept can move 134 forward and send an email to all the AC members to see if they want to include their email or 135 a separate CPD related email address. Michelle suggested that an email be sent through a 136 secretary or as Mahealani mentioned setting up a CDP specific email. Sinclair confirmed that 137 the server will only allow for an individual email for each. 138 Guest speaker mentioned they wanted an accessible interface which is not really what we 139 have now. 140 Chair Keeney amended a motion to have the email address that has been removed from the 141 Hāmākua CDP website be restored with the exception of those members who do not want 142 their personal email address exposed. Seconded by Niki Hubbard. Motion passed unanimously 143 with a voice vote (6‐0). 144 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 5 Keeney made a motion that we have restoration of the Chair and Agenda, Date and Time or 145 the upcoming meeting of the Action Committee on the HCDP website. Motion passed 146 unanimously with a voice vote (6‐0). 147 4. AC Meeting Cadence: 148 The Chair confirmed with the Corporation council and planning department that the Chair can 149 discuss setting of dates, times, venues and agendas and that no discussion of note can be 150 made regarding topics as it does not violate the Sunshine Laws. No motion needed. 151 5. Permitted Interaction Group Updates: 152 o Waipi‘o Wahi Pana 153 Committee Member Kurokawa reports a 2‐day session on Aug 19‐20 with the Edith Kanakaole 154 Foundation with the Waipio steering committee. Interesting session to discuss the 155 generational resources Papakumakawalu and the Hawaiian culture/chants and using this as a 156 foundation and framework to develop Kapu (religious and important elements) and Kanawai 157 (rule set in place to protect the Kapu). Heather pulled out the process that is communicated 158 through oral chants and other historical learnings. Put a draft in place and pull from 159 additional sources and take it back to the Steering Committee and Corporation Counsel. 160 Creating pool of resources to justify the actions taken. 161 o Housing 162 Vice‐Chair Hubbard does not have a particular task. It is an information sharing session. A 163 mailer with the map was sent out that has a 50‐acre residential parcel with a 30‐unit 164 affordable housing subdivision proposal. They do not have funding for infrastructure or 165 housing. They have a design laid out but will not know how the development will be built until 166 they have the infrastructure. It is a county development and will have the infrastructure as 167 required by the county. Niki will follow‐up and be a liaison. The immediate community was 168 not pleased with the plan and are concerned with run off and confusion with what affordable 169 housing will look like and what it is and what it will do to the surrounding community. AC 170 could provide education to the community. County will not know the affording housing 171 parameters until they get planning. 172 173 Heather Kimball made some additional comments and calls to action. There will be a Wildfire 174 meeting and participation in the Mayor’s fire related task force on 10/3/2023. There is a 175 presentation on 9/19/2023 for support tools for ecosystem data management to help with 176 determining how policies affect other areas of land management. There is a bill coming 177 forward on 10/3/2023 to focus eligibility on residence and closeness to work. On October 3rd 178 the Council is also asking the Finance Department to work on negotiations to purchase a 32‐179 acre parcel in Gualt’s Gulch, the southern part of Pepe’ekeo and shoreline via PONC. Public 180 support is needed. Hank Correa owns the parcel, and it is for sale. If acquired would provide 181 public access to fishing and agroforestry and support the local community with local 182 stewardship. The hearing is 10/3/2023 in committee and the following Wednesday in Council. 183 6. Future Agenda Item Recommendations 184 1. Permitted Interaction Groups Updates to AC 185 www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/ CDP@hawaiicounty.gov Page 6 2. Format of Future AC Meetings 186 3. Honokaʻa Business AssociaƟon presentaƟon 187 4. Presentation from Deborah Chang, Current Chair on Pepeʻekeo PONCs 188 ADJOURNMENT: 189 Committee Chair Keeney motioned to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Committee Member 190 Nishimoto. Motion passed unanimously (6‐0). The meeting was adjourned at approximately 191 7:51 p.m. 192 These meeting minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 193 Hāmākua Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi 194 Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning 195 Department by calling (808) 961‐8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 196 CommunicaƟon Number 2023‐19 Page 1 of 3 Aloha fellow Action Committee Chairs and members, This letter inquires whether there is interest in coordinating AC response to the Draft General Plan due March 1, 2024, as there will likely be similar questions & comments by each Committee toward Planning, and response from Planning, on proposed changes to the current GP (2005). County Code specifies it is the duty of each AC to provide recommendations to amend the General Plan. As background to this inquiry, on Monday, Oct. 16, I sent mail to Corporation Counsel and Planning requesting judgement whether the Public Comment period deadline on the COH Draft General Plan is applicable to the Community Development Plan Action Committees. “Must deliberation and recommendations from the various district Action Committees be submitted to the Planning Department by the November 20 deadline in order to be considered as official documents from our Committee?” County Code at 16- 6 (10) specifies the Duties and Responsibility of the Action Committee to “(10) Provide recommendations to amend the General Plan.” The Nov. 20 deadline allowed only one Hamakua AC meeting for General Plan consideration, which is incompatible with the above Responsibility. My request for meetings more frequent than monthly had been previously denied by Planning, understandably. On Wednesday, Oct. 18, the Public Comment Deadline was extended to March 1. I believe that Planning has a right to expect from the Action Committees that they make good use of this temporal extension. Therefore some coordination among AC groups may be desired, as the answers to many AC member questions to Planning in this short timeframe will most likely be relevant to the entirety of the Islandwide AC members. My own perspective has been shaped by comments received asking that Planning make clear, perhaps in a Compendium/Appendix accompanying the Draft GP, those items and directives which are a change from the current 2005 Plan. I'm not sure if this has been an issue for other committees review of the Draft GP, but if so, perhaps this should be a consistent request from each Action Committee toward Planning. This consolidation would then be a starting point for the Action Committees' and Public's understanding, discussion and comment. For example, it has been my impression that the presentation of the Land Use map is insufficient to understand where changes in zoning have been made. One needs to 'click' on each property (?thousands) to determine if it is subject to zoning change. Designation on the map should exist where changes in zoning have taken place. Or perhaps, more practically, there could be an accompanying compendium of those properties which have zoning change. Also, my reading thus far has occasionally encountered terms and concepts which are foreign to me. It is possible that each AC member may have concepts they wish explained, and since this duty to comment is obligated of each AC, and several Committees may have the same questions, it seems reasonable to consider a group AC 'concepts and terms clarification' request to Planning. Planning could decide whether CommunicaƟon Number 2023‐19 Page 2 of 3 their response would be in email to each islandwide member, or in the 'Communications' section of each agenda, or both. It does not seem reasonable to expect from Planning explanations of concepts previously present in the 2005 General Plan as this is likely an unmanageable burden of historical data. But likewise, concepts that are new to this Draft GP may be novel to the AC members, and Planning staff likely have explanations readily available. The members of various Committees will, in many cases, have similar questions. It is my impression that Action Committees are unreasonably burdened with trying to untangle what is new and what is Status Quo, in formulating their recommendations toward the current Draft GP. Again, the CDP mandated Action Committee 'Duty' of requesting needed clarification and explanation preceding recommendations, would likely be preempted by Planning's publishing the suggested compendium of changes from the 2005 Plan which have been incorporated into the current Draft. After those changes are clarified, along with explanation of new terms and concepts, then the work of the Action Committees would be accelerated over the next few months in drafting response and recommendations. Without a compendium of changes from the current Plan and explanation of novel concepts in the Draft GP, questions and comments submitted to Planning from each AC will be unnecessarily repetitive and burdensome, and useful information may be distributed from Planning to some Committees but not to others. To that end I suggest perhaps the following, (but welcome other ideas or suggestions): 1) A Zoom meeting of the chairs of each Action Committee 2) Creation of a Permitted Interaction Group in each Committee responsible for developing an initial set of Questions and Comments to be presented to Planning with a Copy to be sent to each other district Action Committee (to be included the 'Communications' on the Agenda of the various Committees). 3) Planning's response to those Questions and Comments from each Committee would be sent to the entirety of the District Committees and included in the 'Communications' on the next meeting Agenda. 4) Perhaps a subsequent meeting of the chairs of the Committees would distill the questions and response from Planning into an Agenda for a Combined Action Committee meeting with Planning. This should be sent to each district Action Committee and included on the Agenda of the various Committees. 5) A Combined Action Committee meeting with Planning to address the Comments and Questions raised. 6) The Final set of Recommendations would be written by each Action Committee to Planning and copy to County Council. To have official status as recommendation, the document needs to be from each individual Action Committee, as the Combined CommunicaƟon Number 2023‐19 Page 3 of 3 Group has no 'official' status, e.g. voting authority. Likely there will be a great deal of overlap in the documents from each Committee. Can this be accomplished by March 1? To me, the above all seems like the most lawful and considerate approach. In order to avoid much work and duplication it might be desirable that each Committee, at their next meeting, draft and send a letter to Planning asking for presentation to the Public and Committees a compendium of all proposed changes from the Status Quo in the Draft General Plan. Any suggestions to the above described process would be most welcome. To facilitate a Zoom meeting of the chairs of the district ACs, perhaps each chair would respond by email or phone (808-937-7674) to me with a note whether they would be interested in a Zoom meeting and, if so, when they would be available to meet (time and day). Since identification of the Committee chair has been removed from the CDP website, I am sending this note to each AC member whose email address I have, other than my own Committee (where I will place this note in Agenda 'Communications'). This has been clarified by Corp. Counsel to not be in violation of Sunshine Law. As a side note, Planning has stated that the email addresses of each member giving their consent for posting on the district CDP website will be restored after the vacationing Planner gets caught up on her work after returning. Forgive my assuming your interest as AC members in considering the above. I simply hope to do due diligence to our appointed duty. Mahalo for your consideration, and feel free to comment to me, but please avoid 'reply all' or comment directed to your own Committee members as that might be considered a possible Sunshine violation. Tawn Keeney MD Communication Number 2023-20 Communication Number 2023-21 GPLU: Heavy Industrial GQneral Plan Land Use (GPLU) Label Revised from LUPAG (yin) LUPAG Land Use Label Community D@v@lopment Plan Land Use Label 0._Zoomto Heavy Industrial Low Density Urban Industrial V [] X Communication Number 2023-22 GPLU: Heavy Industrial Gen@ral Plan Land Use (GPLU) Label Revised from LUPAG (yin) LUPAG Land Us@ Label Community Developmont Plan Land Use Label Heavy Industrial Yes Industrial Industrial V []] X / Communication Number 2023-23 GPLU: Heavy Industrial General Plan Land Us@ (GPLU) Label R@vis@d from LUPAG (yin) LUPAG Land Us@ Label Community DevQlopm@nt Plan Land Us@ Label �Zoom to ■ ■ ■ ■ • ■ ------- V [] X Heavy Industrial Yes Important Agriculture Lands Industrial ./ ·----..._ I I l ,' I I Communication Number 2023-24 1 Palma, Maryam From:tawn@honokaapeople.com Sent:Tuesday, October 24, 2023 7:24 PM To:Surprenant, April; Planning CDP Subject:One more link (important) for 'Communications' for the Hamakua CDP AC meeting Hi April, Probably the most important link to place in Communications is the following. https://youtu.be/SCngrDYSwEM. This is a condensation of a Civil Beat panel discussion on Wildfire Preparedness. It was a 60 minutes panel but I condensed it into 22 minutes. Elizabeth Pickett from Hawaii Wildfire Management and Clay Trauernicht from UH Manoa are the majors. I have had conversations with Elizabeth and with the Honokaa Fire Captain, and the Hamakua Fire Prevention officer and Kamehameha Schools Asset manager and have had email exchange with the Civil Defense director about developing a plan or multiple plans for fire preparedness in Hamakua. Of course HWMO has finished their new 'official' plan but I haven't seen it. It will now be a matter of application. I got a positive feeling from my Conversation with Kamehameha Schools. That was encouraging. On Nov. 7 we will be addressing this topic with the Honokaa Business Assn. I think that it would be 22 minutes well spent to look at this. Thanks, Tawn Communication Number 2023-25 Steve Pause Director, Department of Public Works County of Hawaii Dear Director Pause, My name is Tawn Keeney. I was physician in Honokaa for 36 years and have been retired for 10 years. I have owned the Honokaa People's Theatre since 1991 and currently operate it as a 5 night/week movie theatre. I am currently the chair of the Hamakua Community Development Plan Action Committee. I am writing this as a member of the public, but this is an issue soon to be taken up by the Hamakua CDP Action Committee. The CDP Action Committee concerns itself with problems and potentials in the Hamakua District. I wish to have you consider with me one of those potentials, one that has been given thought for the 45 years that I have lived in Honokaa - a Mud Lane to Honokaa connector road. This consideration is embodied in the Hamakua Community Development Plan as Policy 55: "Perform a feasibility study on developing a scenic route from the Waipio Valley Lookout extending mauka to connect to Mud Lane at the entrance of Waimea." Policy 56 states: "Perform a feasibility study on developing a scenic park (accessible via Mud Lane) with a viewing area of Hiilawe Falls in conjunction with the development of the scenic highway." Discussion of Policy 55 states, "Improving the mid-section of Mud Lane would provide an alternate/emergency route to Kukuihaele and the Waipio Valley lookout, and would create a scenic loop between Waimea, Waipio Valley Lookout and Honokaa. This feasibility study could include assessing public access potential to the Hamakua Forest Reserve(Kea'a and Hanapai Sections). This policy is based on GP 13.2.5.4.2 (c). Discussion of Policy 56 states, "This policy is related to and dependent on Policy 55 above and is based on General Plan policy 12.5.4.2 (d). One of the advantages of developing a scenic park with a view of Hiilawe Falls would be to incentivize scenic viewpoints above the Valley with the goal of minimizing visitor trips into the valley. To minimize impacts, this park could be accessible via a pedestrian hiking trail developed along the old cane haul road." (I would like to add consideration of bicycle concession access.) I would like to enumerate the considerations which I have encountered in relation to these proposals, which, after all, are only feasibility studies. First, a new member on our CDP Action Committee, Tisha Mahealani Maikui, on her introduction to our Committee indicated that her first priority would be to advocate for an alternate emergency access (other than the Honokaa-Waipio Highway) route for the Waipio/Kukuihaele/Kapulena communities (that route was not specified). Second, the reluctance of the Honokaa Business Community to construction of such a connector road, citing concern for loss of visitor passage through Honokaa in transit to the Waipio lookout, might turn to support if it were agreed that a Mud Lane connector would be a one way road with a wide shoulder which could accommodate a bike lane or emergency vehicle passage. I believe that 'one way traffic', thus ensuring visitor Communication Number 2023-26 Page 1 of 2 transit through Honokaa, would be important to any consideration of receiving Honokaa Business support. Residents in the Waipio/Kukuihaele/Kapulena area would have their round trip mileage to Waimea significantly reduced. Third, the overlook park mentioned above is truly spectacular, on a par with the current Waipio lookout, and should be accessible, even if by walking or cycling. Kulia Potter currently has management and access authority from Kamehameha Schools over this area. She is dedicated to Hawaiian Cultural Restoration but I believe could be supportive of a park here if access were limited to walking or bicycling the mile(?) of trail required. Fourth, the current urgency of search by the County and Communities for solution to the Waipio visitor inundation problem might be favorably impacted by provision of the Overlook Park described above. I personally feel that construction of such a one-way connector road would be a 'win-win' for everyone involved. If 'one-way' status could not be assured, then I also might be hesitant to support such a proposal. If construction of a one-way connector road (with emergency capable shoulder) extending Mud Lane down to Kukuihaele might be a possibility, then I would like to request an appointment, perhaps in the company of Ms. Maikui, to meet at your office to discuss how we might begin the process leading to this study or studies, even if this possibility currently would seem remote. Mahalo for your consideration, Tawn Keeney MD Page 2 of 2 Communication Number 2023-26 11/1/23, 7:46 AM Mud Lane - Waipio.png https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mhqx8GFfJ8KPtQZ0tSl0rKCPAej3CEj5/view 1/1 Communication Number 2023-27 11/1/23, 7:53 AM Waipio - Honokaa Wider View.png https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3SRx5EqJTlbeq1WB8KVX7OHc28lG5C5/view 1/1 Communication Number 2023-28 1 Hata, Janice From:Valerie Van Pham Sent:Monday, November 6, 2023 12:19 PM To:Planning CDP; Kimball, Heather Subject:Hamakua Community Development Plan Action Committee Meeting, November 8th, 2023: Item 7 (Mud Lane Roadway) Dear Committee, On behalf of my family, neighbors and friends I am advocating that Mud Lane become a county maintained road (possibly restricted to Hawaii residents only as is Waipio Valley Road) for the following reasons: Opening Mud Lane would create a significant bypass for Hawaii residents 1.seeking emergency or other medical attention in Waimea at the North Hawaii Community Hospital, which offers more comprehensive services than the Honokaa Health Center can provide; 2, seeking emergency or other medical veterinarian care for domestic and feral animals that live or were abandoned in Kukuihaele or Waipio Valley (Veterinarian Associates on Mana road is the closest vet to us). 3.seeking a shorter commute for those of us who regularly commute to or from Kukuihaele and Waipio Valley going or coming from Waimea and the communities in the middle and the east side of the Big Island, for farming, business or family reasons. Thank you for taking these issues into consideration. Sincerely, Valerie Van Pham Communication Number 2023-29 1 Hata, Janice From:Roger Schafer Sent:Monday, November 6, 2023 10:23 PM To:Planning CDP Subject:Hamakua community development plan action committee meeting Nov 8th Aloha, I am a resident of W. Waikoekoe lane next to Mud Lane. As someone who depends on mud lane for my daily life, I would like to make a comment at the public meeting of the Hamakua community development plan action committee on Nov. 8th, 2023. I would like to comment on the use of mud lane as a county‐maintained road and have questions about the specifics of its future usage. Thank you, Roger Schafer Get Outlook for iOS Communication Number 2023-30