HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-25 PL-INT-2024-008769 GP 2045 Draft Comments - J. Bauer DeVera, Ashley
From: Jessica K <
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 2:12 PM
To: Planning General Plan
Subject: General Plan comments
Hello, thank you so much for this opportunity to provide commentary
on the General Plan. My name is Jessica Kuzmier Bauer, and I am
currently a resident of North Kona.
I'm very excited and grateful that the County has included the public
in this process. It's a great commitment to the democratic process
as we work towards a better future.
I've looked through much of the plan, and what I'm looking forward to
is the opportunity to work with the County's commitment to a
sustainable future. There's a lot of challenges that are guaranteed to
be part of the future, such as climate change and
economic/ecological sustainability for our island. This kind of plan
will be a great way to approach many of these things, whether it has to
do with what kind of businesses/industries we invest in, the
transportation situation, and the ability to provide clean water and
other necessities for our communities and local economy.
I would like to see a transition to attract a new kind of tourist to our
island, as many times in North Kona it feels a bit like a party
atmosphere/mini Las Vegas (what happens here, stays here), except
we get to stay here with the leftovers. As we are trying to invest in a
more holistic environment which reflects the culture of the kanaka
maoli peoples, I believe this would be a great path into the future. I
would also like to see a lot more reclamation of grey water and
stormwater, and I would also like to see the County invest in
municipal ways to have county-wide trash delivery with extensive
recycling and composting throughout the entire island, not just a few
transfer stations. If we are really going to be investing in
sustainability, it would be a good idea to make this a goal as county-
wide ability to do this would make it easier for everyone. If the
process is widely accessible this way and simpler, more people
would be likely to engaged in recycling and composting whether in the
urban regions or the rural regions, and regardless if they are a
resident or a tourist.
I don't have any particular expertise to comment on any infrastructure
issues but am glad to see these things being highlighted as well.
My only major idea/suggestion is that I would like to see Hawaii Island
convert to a co-op like Kauai for our electricity services. Admittedly I
have no idea what the process is to convert to this kind of utility as far
as permits and other concerns, but when I was a resident on the
mainland I had the experience of having an electric company that was
a co-op and it felt like it was more of a democratic process and a self-
sustaining one.
Mahalo for your work and for hearing my views. Jessica Kuzmier
Bauer, North Kona
2