HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 General Plan Implementation Comment SummaryGeneral Plan Implementation
Public Comment Summary
County of Hawaiʻi Draft General Plan 2045
The public comment period for the Draft General Plan 2045 was held from September 18, 2023
to April 1, 2024. This comment summary contains the key themes derived from community
feedback on the Implementation section of the draft plan.
1. Feasibility and Practicality of Implementation
Implementation comments express concerns over the realistic and practical aspects of
implementing the General Plan, including funding limitations and capital projects.
Specifically, the allocation and sufficiency of funding for proposed plans as well as the criteria
for setting project priorities, particularly in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) section,
is of concern. There are suggestions to incorporate pragmatic language and better
explanations in this section. Several comments highlight the importance of identifying clear
priorities and implementing development plans in phases, with specific calls for urban
development plans for regions such as Hilo. There is a strong push for the creation of a
Community Development Plan for Hilo, pointing out its absence and the necessity for its
inclusion to guide local development.
2. Community Engagement and Local Decision-Making
Many comments advocate for local community input and decision-making power, cautioning
against reliance on consultants or unelected bodies. The comments represent a strong
sentiment that civic engagement should be fostered.
3. Plan Accessibility and Clarity
Comments reflect frustrations with the plan’s layout, organization, and presentation, including
missing content, navigational difficulties, and the need for more accessible public review.
There is a call for the inclusion of specific benchmarks, standards, and responsibilities in the
plans to assess progress and ensure proper implementation.
4. Environmental Concerns and Sustainable Practices
A few comments discuss environmental topics, including skepticism around climate change
strategies and an emphasis on sustainable housing solutions.
Draft General Plan 2045
Implementation Comment Summary
Page 2 of 5
Comment Page Number
(in the online
Konveio platform)
On A Final Note In the early 1600's the Roman Catholic Church was Europe's religious,
political and scientific authority. It supported a geocentric doctrine, which placed the earth at
the center of the universe. At that time, Galileo Galilei supported Copernican heliocentrism,
which placed the sun at the center of the solar system, Galileo based his support and scientific
writings on actual telescopic observations of the sun, moon, planets and stars. After an
Inquisition the Church admonished, punished and censured Galileo. He was placed under
house arrest and was forced to recant his support of Copernican heliocentrism. A decision
that damaged the Church's reputation for over 300 years. Finally, in 1992 the Church
acknowledged that the Inquisition was wrong to not listen to and accept Galileo's scientific
findings. The moral to this story.. popular doctrines and flavors of the month will eventually
give way to the truth. Ultimately, the truth will prevail and the truth will utimately show that
efforts to reduce emissions of man-made atmospheric CO2 will have no effect on the earth's
climate and global warming. Millions and billions of dollars spent on a fool's errand.
Accordingly, for the reasons and facts stated above, I urge you to remove plans to eliminate
man-made CO2 from the County of Hawaii's Plan 2045. Solar radiation is the earth's primary
heat source and Henry's Law, which has been a fundamental law of physics since 1850, shows
that the temperature of the earth's land and water surfaces govern the levels of atmospheric
CO2, not the level of man-made CO2, which is so small that it cannot be measured. For those
of you who do not have the time to read all of the articles referenced above, click on the
graphic below to watch the movie "THE COLD TRUTH", which provides similar information.
This movie premiered on March 20, 2024.
213
Comments on the General Plan layout, organizaiton and topical presentation 1. The lack of a
Table of Contents made navigating, reviewing, and commenting on the draft plan very
difficult. 2. Lack of consistency in the numbering convention used throughout the document.
a. Major Subjects Listed as "sections" b. Subsections also listed as "sections". c. Some major
subjects included a table at the beginning of the section showing numbered subsections and
others did not. i. Some components of the subsections were not numbered.
213
How is this General Plan being funded and by whom? 213
I am also skeptical of the use of public/private partnerships where local decisions are made
by unelected bodies, especially those from away. And does "government" refer to Hawaiʻi
County? if it doesn't, it should. I'm also deeply disturbed by the suggestion of a micronuclear
plant being suggested on our nuclear free, earthquake and tsunami prone island. Such a
proposal is nothing but insane. And don't you need the approval of the citizens of this county?
I have many more questions and reservations and hope you extend the period to allow public
input and inquiry. Mahala for considering my reservations and hope you will answer all my
questions,
213
COMPARISON OF 2005 AND 2045 PLANS The 2045 Plan is lacking many features of the 2005
Plan that provided information and facilitated understanding ..Public comment is hampered
by the lack of a table of contents for 2045, and by no mechanism to copy text from the 2005
plan PDF. 2005 Table of Contents 2045 none, unless you happen to click on an Icon on the
left, which yields a brief table of contents List of Tables List of Maps Statement of assumptions
none none none Projections re. employment and population Citation of sources for tables
Maps other than LUPAG maps Lava hazard zones Historic sites Schools Libraries Police
stations Fire stations Courts Correctional faciltiies Hospitals Landfills and transfer stations
Cemeteries Electric power generating faciltiies Water wells and springs Wastewater treatment
plants Parks-County, State, Federal Roadways-detailed maps for various districts Airports
Wharfs and harbors Government owned lands: Federal, State, DHHL Military installations
213
Priorities and Phases The first phase is the consistency phase and will require a hard look at
our policy and planning framework to ensure consistency with this General Plan. It includes
implementation actions such as auditing codes to determine needed updates and updating
our Community Development Plans and other relevant plans. p.209 There should be ample
opportunity for the public to comment Phase 1 2024-2029 Revamp of CIP process p. 209 "CIP"
should be explained. Proposed changes should be more fully described.
210
Draft General Plan 2045
Implementation Comment Summary
Page 3 of 5
Public Agency Functional Plans and Programs p. 206 The General Plan draft should cite
statutory authority for each of these. Public Agency Functional Plans and Programs p. 206
Blocks of text for this section appear to be moved to the wrong spot on the page.
207
Local Engagement Foster grassroots participation and balancing of interests by providing
opportunities for active civic engagement, where citizens have the means to collaborate with
the government and are empowered to effect positive change consistent with plans
developed under this chapter. p. 202
203
The 2045 Plan is lacking many features of the 2005 Plan that provided information and
facilitated understanding. Public comment is hampered by the lack of a table of contents for
2045, and by no mechanism to copy text from the 2005 plan PDF. 2005 2045 Table of
Contents none, unless you happen to click on an Icon on the left, which yields a brief table of
contents. Things that are needed include: • List of Tables • List of Maps • Statement of
assumptions • Projections re. employment and population • Citation of sources for tables •
Maps other than LUPAG maps • Lava hazard zones • Historic sites • Schools • Libraries • Police
stations • Fire stations • Courts • Correctional facilities • Hospitals • Landfills and transfer
stations • Cemeteries • Electric power generating facilities • Water wells and springs •
Wastewater treatment plants • Parks-County, State, Federal • Roadways-detailed maps for
various districts • Airports • Wharfs and harbors • Government owned lands: Federal, State,
DHHL • Military installations
213
"CIP" should be explained. Proposed changes should be more fully described. 210
The first phase is the consistency phase and will require a hard look at our policy and planning
framework to ensure consistency with this General Plan. It includes implementation actions
such as auditing codes to determine needed updates and updating our Community
Development Plans and other relevant plans. p. 209 There should be ample opportunity for
the public to comment. Transparency regarding which codes will be audited and how is
crucial.
210
Blocks of text for this section appear to be moved to the wrong spot on the page. 207
The General Plan draft should cite statutory authority for each of these. 207
Replace "the government" with "the county" 203
According to the GP 2045, the purpose of the County Planning System is to serve as a guide
for the long-range development, and economic, environmental, and socio cultural wellbeing
of the county. The Planning System is designed to incorporate feedback systems to ensure
that all its components fit together and serve their intended purpose. A key component of this
are Community Development Plans (CDPs), Special Plans, and Urban Development Plans. The
town of Hilo is unique of all regions on the island in that it lacks a modern CDP (the last Hilo
CDP dates from 1975). That means that not only are we in Hilo missing a "plan on the shelf",
and there is thus no mechanism to accomplish the intended functions of the CDP, which the
GP 2045 says are to: 1. Translate the General Plan's broad statements and community
development guidelines to actions specific to the planning area to address regional issues
and opportunities. 2. Improve and advance communities and community resilience through
the acknowledgment and development of community capacity. 3. Provide a process for
citizens to engage in civic dialogue and contribute to the identification of community
priorities. In the absence of a CDP, Hilo should be the subject of an Urban Development Plan.
The GP 2045 states that these plans are: .... a means of implementing 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 comprise a minor portion of a larger, regional
community planning area. They shall be consistent with and implement the visions, objectives,
and policies of the General Plan and applicable community development plans.... An Urban
Development Plan is initiated by or through the Planning Director or County Council. The
Urban Development Plan process should identify: 1. An analysis of problems, needs, and
opportunities 2. Appropriate planning standards • Public services and transportation •
Housing unit densities, urban design • Streetscaping and landscaping design • A statement
of proposed considerations for historic or archaeological features in the proximity of the
plan's area, which may consider restoration, access, buffers, and other measures as
203
Draft General Plan 2045
Implementation Comment Summary
Page 4 of 5
appropriate. 3. Sequencing and phasing of development or redevelopment, public facilities,
infrastructure 4. Implementation program CIP, financial element, and schedule. We request
that the GP 2045 be amended to recommend the preparation of an Urban Development Plan
for Hilo, and that the plan include an Action Committee consisting of nine volunteer residents
from the Hilo area who shall serve as stewards of the UDP through facilitating implementation
and recommending plan updates as needed, similar to the CDP.
We need a train. That will revolutionize our island. Quick transportation long distances of both
people and goods. Then taxis and buses can handle each drop off point.
212
Does this not describe our entire island? 212
How do you plan on doing this when you're just using guesses from whatever the latest model
is? None of them has panned out thus far. This is an expensive and unnecessary requirement
that will limit what our county can do.
212
The budget should be proportional to adequately address health and safety needs Then our
children should swim in sanitary and safe pools, not like the one in North Kohala!...after non-
use (& plenty of time to scrub it down) there was nothing done to clean up the degraded
condition! How can we let our seniors live in housing with smart meters directly radiating
them. We need to truly enact this mandate in the General Plan…It is the highest priority;
’Health and Safety’.
208
Some of the phases in this section mention “strategic gaps in the Plan” and “comprehensive
updates.” Isn’t that what is going on now during this time that the public has to review the
plan and submit feedback? Yes, the Plan when implemented will continue to 20 years, but it
is not clear how any updated or changes would be accomplished after the Plan is approved
and implemented.
210
CIP = Funding and we all know that funding is limited. As stated in this section only about
30% of projects actually get funded and those projects are determined in large part by the
CDPs. Again, no CDP in Hilo.
208
The CDPs are an important part of this portion of the Plan but there is no CDP for Hilo, nor has
there been for over 50 years. Hilo is the 2nd largest city in the state and stands to be greatly
impacted by the Smart City concept and yet there is no Hilo CDP.
204
There are a lot of nice words in the General Plan as a whole but not enough actual “Plan.”
There has not been enough civic engagement to move forward with the Plan. Even though
the County has given months for the public to read the Plan and enter comments, the general
public appears to require actual meetings where they can ask questions and get clarification.
The one meeting in Hilo had lots of information displayed which could not easily be
interpreted by average citizens.
203
Pg. 201-212 Include department responsibility/oversight in an implementation action matrix.
This could provide a more detailed path to follow. -correlate key areas of the plan with the
primary department/entity responsible. -large actions may be further broken down into
smaller steps (more feasible for implementation. Think about the expected outcome, how
actionable/feasible it is.
203
Affordable houseing can be increased by regulating builders of "Tiny HOuses" so they meet
building standards and thus do not require a building permit for placing in urban and rural
areas.
213
Our planet is NEVER in the same place from one day to the next. Of course the climate
changes. We need adaptable stewardship of our Aina.
212
Any issue can be brought to the People on a regular basis. ANY CIP can be brought to the
people for votes. Let us get back to more immediate self- governing, not committee ruling.
209
We request that the GP 2045 be amended to recommend the preparation of an Urban
Development Plan for Hilo, and that the plan should include an Action Committee consisting
of nine volunteer residents from the Hilo area who shall serve as stewards of the UDP through
facilitating implementation and recommending plan updates as needed, similar to the CDP.
206
EPA Enforcement actions are going to drive a lot of wastewater CIP priorities. Not sure how
you want to mention that as a criterion
209
Draft General Plan 2045
Implementation Comment Summary
Page 5 of 5
My impression: the draft Plan touches essentially all the bases. But it is full of verbs such as
support, ensure, strive etc. Priority Actions are not clearly prioritized within a group and
sufficient funds do not exist in the County (or even in the State?) to implement most of them.
Even the final Monitoring table lacks specific benchmarks to evaluate adequately.
211
And Community Development Plan committees 211
Make it 3-year. We need to know how progress goes. 211
Include parcels that meet basic safety and emergency needs For example, Pratt Road in North
Kohala could become an emergency access route when our only through highway becomes
blocked (again).
206
Why not refer to them as the "local committees that implement their CDPs"?? North Kohala,
for example has created an Advisory Group to accomplish this. Why set Action Committees in
stone for the next 20 years?
205
and "procedural or technical gaps..." 210
Why is this in the CIP section? This should be up front, in a section that offers specific language
about how collaboration toward GP goal achievements should be carried out. Or else just
omitted. It's pointless in the CIP section in particular.
209
consider being more proactive in the funding component. we have very little infrastructure in
already developed areas of our cities and towns
208
looks like part of the sentence is missing. 207
Well - we have to be careful that the precious few dollars we have for capital projects into
consumed by a "candy jar" option for Department heads to say, "Oh, we can't figure this out,
or don't have the time, so we're going to hire a consultant for $500,000 to ask us the questions
we need to ask ourselves, and write down and collate what they say for them." No. No. No.
208
Yes! Sequencing expansion, whether called phasing or otherwise, is critically important to
make this work. As for your other aspect for the urban development plans to identify, I suggest
adding several examples below the heading, i.e., "Roads, water, sewer, parks, DOE school
sites, public safety facilities." This adds "weight" to the concept of these things being address
in such plan.
207
Change "should" to "may." We have to be realistic; just as the CIP can be viewed more as
"wish list" than an action mandate, amending the GP because a region wants more of
whatever should be expressly considered, via such items being an appendix to a proposed
CDP revision draft, in conjunction w/ the Council's consideration of that particular CDP draft
or within one year later (ideally, after multiple CDP updates have been presented and adopted
with reservations or revisions).
206